No Time for Real Questions

I recently met an innovative private school founder. In the context of student agency, he proudly shared with me about how he set up a box in the school where students can put any question they have and it will be discussed. I said that sounded great but the questions your students are asking are not their real questions. He was shocked and asked what I meant. I said I would guess that your students are asking how to solve this or that math problem or they are asking things related to the syllabus. He confirmed this was the case. I repeated that these are not their real questions to let it sink in. The real questions are about their everyday realities such as: why are my relatives fighting over land and money? why is my neighbor in depression and attempted suicide? why did my aunt get cancer? why is my brother with a MA degree sitting at home unemployed? why is our drinking water quality so poor? why are our crops getting destroyed by unseasonal rain or drought? how did my friend get diabetes and how to cure it without pills? why is my street and local river filled with plastic waste? why are there beggars and poverty in the city? why did that girl i liked reject me? where did my grandfather go when he died? and so many more. These are all questions that emerge from one's local context and daily life. Sadly, there are very few spaces in a children's life where they can explore these important questions. He agreed with me but said it was not the school's job to explore these.

More than 50 years ago, the Brazilian educator Paulo Freire said that we must learn to not only read the word but to read the world. Not only are these life questions ignored by schools, both educators and parents have created a disney-land like bubble where kids are actively told not to ask such questions and just focus on completing their homework and passing the exam (even the notion of play is being corrupted in this context). And sadly those who pass the exams without this basic understanding of life are rewarded big decision-making positions. Then we wonder why so many psychotic or apathetic leaders dominate the world.

I dont think that adding another subject to read the world is the solution. In fact this may be more dangerous. It is time to stop trying to fool students -- locking them up in school cages (often against their will) and telling them they are free to learn. I invite you to join me in reimagining education.