If there’s one thing all of the 19th century history classes I’ve taken at the University have taught me, it’s that living in the 21st century is a luxury no one should take for granted.
Imagine trying to explain abolition, Darwinian evolution and separation of church and state to the average 19th century person without being carted off to the gallows or burned at the stake for heresy. If that’s not hard enough, try traveling back to the 19th century and explaining the complexities of “electronic mail,” Skype and 3-D porn.
In the last century, our generation has been fortunate enough to enjoy thousands of new ideas and innovations that have pushed the limits of man’s imagination and raised society’s standard of living to previously unimaginable heights.
Yet despite all the mind-blowing progress and technological and social advance we’ve seen, there’s one important area in modern society that remains largely the same as it was in the days before electricity, the cotton gin and the combustion engine.
Education.
If you traveled back in time and visited a traditional 19th century school, you’d most likely find a small classroom, about 20 to 30 desks, a blackboard and a teacher droning on and on at the front of the room.
Now fast forward to the modern era and visit a traditional schoolroom.
What will you find? Essentially the same exact thing you would have 150 years ago — a classroom, about 20 to 30 desks, a teacher droning on and on at the front of the room and a blackboard.
This lack of progress is pretty disturbing — especially considering the emphasis our nation allegedly puts on advancing education.
In an era that has seen innovations like the spaceship, the Diaper Genie and the iPad, you’d think we’d at least be able to create a more creative and inspiring way to educate children.
Luckily, the mind-numbing monotony of our current model of primary education has inspired many parents to search for new alternatives to education.
One of the most controversial new educational methods that has sprung up recently is the idea of “unschooling.”
“Unschooling” is an educational philosophy rooted in the belief that the best way to teach children is not through a rigid “one size fits all” educational system, but through enabling students to choose what subjects and learning methods best fit their individual skill set.
“Unschooling is allowing your child as much freedom to explore and learn from the world as you can comfortably bear as a parent,” said Pat Farenga, one of the leading proponents of “unschooling.”
Though unschooling shares many traits with homeschooling and other alternative educational paradigms, unschoolers argue there are some elements that make it unique. Most notably, unschooled students do not follow an assigned curriculum. Instead, children are allowed and encouraged to set the agenda and pace using their parents and communities as resources.
The idea of “unschooling” children might sound radical to skeptics. However, if we’re going to make progress in the educational arena, we need to be willing to throw aside outmoded practices and adapt to new models of education that place an emphasis on student autonomy.
For decades, students have been subjected to an outmoded model of education that restrains individual thought and expression.
The best way educators can motivate children to learn is through self-motivation, not stale classes and mind-numbing monotony.
In the end, education should revolve around an individual’s pursuit of knowledge, not a top-down bureaucratic hierarchy.
Besides, if we can get students more involved in their education, we won’t have to worry about renegades like Ferris Bueller constantly skipping classes and inciting chaos all over the city.
Scott Burns is a 20-year-old economics and history senior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter
@TDR_sburns.
 
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Contact Scott Burns at [email protected]