My philosophy in life

So, in 2004, I started my Bachelor in Pedagogy. I did so not with the intention to be a teacher, but because of a genuine interest in ways people learn and different ways of learning. I guess my choice of pursuing pedagogy was not a well defined choice at the start, but as I read the philosophy of education and pedagogy, sociology of education and educational history I began understanding the initial attraction.

Reading the word of philosophy of education helped me understand the world of how institutional education is formed and how it changes. But it also led me to get a perception of what should be. Education should be about learning. It seems simple, does it not? In many societies in the Western world today, education does not seem to be about learning anymore. It seems to be more about testing that the students in the schools learn. I recognize the fact that society should hold educational institutions accountable for what they teach, and report the quality of the education.

However, it seems to have gone to extremes. If I ask you the question what do you remember about school, would you like the answer you give me to be that you learned something about the world and the word, or do you think that response is unlikely to come to mind?

More and more students today, especially in the United States are bombarded with tests. Do the test really tell us what they have learned? Is the material that is on the test the type of knowledge we want our children to learn? Is the test even fare? But most importantly, what about all the knowledge students hold that can't be tested in a standardized matter, is that not considered knowledge? Art, critical thinking, and any practical knowledge, these are all things that are not tested on, and therefor not valued. But does that mean that these things posses no value?

I believe that my answers to these questions are obvious to any person who have ever enjoyed painting, or taken pleasure in making something by hand. This society speaks with a double edged tongue when it speaks to the practical field. On the one hand, it is not tested in the Basic education system. However, we all enjoy and rely on individuals who use more than their head when they work.

The hierarchy of knowledge is linked to power. Historical factors of class and production builds up to this. It is odd to me that when a some people in high paying, socially recognized positions report that they enjoy gardening on their leisure time, and still look down at the profession of gardening. Think about it..

My path in life..

So, I thought I would start a blog. I am not sure why, but I guess I am influenced by all those others out there who shares their two cents at any expense. Well, my two cents are just my two cents, and two cents does not have to be a means to and end, two cents can be an end in itself.. So here I go.

Since this is my first blog post, I feel it is appropriate to give a summary to where I am in my life so far. I moved to California last year to start Grad school at SFSU, and to be with my fiancé, David. We now live together, and I have still not regretted moving from all that I knew so well to be with him. We are planning to get married some time next summer, summer of 2011, so I am using my fortune telling skills, and propose that a lot of the topics in this blog will be about our wedding. David is in med school, and he is armenian, christian orthodox, and that adds up to the wedding being on my shoulders mainly. His side of the family wants a big wedding.. I am not sure how many, but over 150 at least.. That to me is a lot..

I mentioned that I am in grad school, on my last year now. Who knows what I will do once I am done.. Equity and social justice is the name of the program, so I figure something to with that.. For those of you who don't get what it is about, I want to say, I get it, a lot of people think it has to do with law, but it doesn't. It has to do with education, philosophy and sociology. I have over the last year learned a lot from both my professors(some more than others) and my fellow students. I enjoy the journey of education, and I feel enriched by my fellow students and the question mark that is my path from here on.

Ok, first post is done for. A bit about me, more for those who read between the lines, and a bit of what I my life looks like.