Apprentice Achievements
Education Isn't One Size Fits All

Education Isn't One Size Fits All

It’s time we started teaching people in a way that represents their individual learning style.

We all learn differently.

When I was at school I loved History, Maths, Science & Metalwork, & importantly I wanted to love English, but I struggled.

I don’t know about you but at the school I attended we were made to stand up in our English class & read passages from classical works & the more I tried to make myself smaller & invisible, the more I stood out for the teacher to pick me.

I wasn’t scared of speaking in front of my peers, rather I was nervous of my ability to read new text without first being introduced to it.

Pronunciation wasn’t taught before these readings & our teachers never discouraged the laughter that followed a pronounced gaff. Often laughter of relief because someone else had to pronounce those words that never came up in our lives outside this class.

Another experience for me was in music. If you were caught mouthing words of a song without making a sound with the rest of the class, you were made to sing a verse solo, something that happened often despite the audible pain I was inflicting on the rest of the class.

None of these experiences stopped me from reading to our children in later life or singing in the shower but they did teach me that teaching shouldn’t be a forceful process of singular, unquestioned compliance!

Do as I say…………….

Equally, humiliating punishment shouldn’t be the reaction to a nervous response from a child being taken beyond their comfort zone even dressed in “for your own good” clothing!

Throughout the ages we’ve always learned differently & we naturally flourish when we find our thing.

We may be predisposed to something practical or maybe service related. We may be academically gifted or learn better though practical application.

These differences should be harnessed to ensure we all receive the maximum benefit from our learning experiences.

Reading, writing, math's & science are all essential skills that we must grasp but we should also be exposed to the arts, history, geography & importantly we should be taught in a way that allows us to assimilate & retain this stuff.

Although I enjoyed math's & science lessons, I learned so much more in metalwork when I had the opportunity to bring those subjects to life through practical application with teachers who understood the benefits of applying these subjects.

I recognise that the freedom to learn is still a privilege that is often taken for granted in our western societies, but teaching is a privilege that must never be taken for granted.

The opportunity to help young people identify their strengths, minimise their weaknesses & develop the skills that will be the foundation of their lives should never be underestimated & must never be used as a platform to force our will on others.

Learning is an individual pursuit often undertaken in a group session that can be supportive, exciting & fun as we discover things for the first time, & these experiences should be encouraged & celebrated.

Whether Plato or Play Dough is your thing, never stop learning.

I hope you have a great week.

Cheers

Noel