Life-long learners nurtured at home, train don’t lament
By Joseline Byakatonda
Most of us have grown up hearing and echoing the importance of education but why is education important? In the same mind of thought, the next question is: how is it suitably acquired? For many, education is something needed to get a job and is a norm for every child to leave home to a destined place to study, which can make it a routine and later as we grow up, this can feel like a waste of time. Combined with the high unemployment level, it’s possible to lose the meaning of education and its importance altogether. However, education is one of the most powerful tools out there beyond just following a modern norm. Education is key to the de/generation of any society.
Latin, being the mother of languages explains education better, it being the root of the english word education by combining two words ‘educare’ which means to bring up, to train or mold, rear and educate and ‘educere’ meaning to lead out. From educare is derived the english word education. Did the Romans have in mind leading out of the pupil what is already within or did they mean to lead the pupil out of ignorance?
Well, one cannot happen without the other. For one to birth what is within them to the world, they ought to know why they should contribute to society, what they can contribute and how they can contribute, which addresses ignorance. Yet, being aware of/about things without putting the information to use is not knowing and cannot ‘lead out’. Education therefore is studying in order to obtain a deeper knowledge and understanding of a variety of subjects to be useful in daily life. It is a state of mind, a way of thinking and an attitude that can also be obtained through practical experiences outside the classroom. Education is not as most falsely believed, a bunch of certificates, nor is it a set of abbreviations before or after one’s name.
Education is also not just a way to accumulate knowledge but a path to acquire wisdom from one’s observations. The true goal of education is also to feed an internal model that is nonexistent when we are born, apart from the means through which the model can be built, which is inquisitiveness to learn. As toddlers because of the inquisitive mind, we broke toys, dismantled things; a habit that should have been nurtured to maturity in each one of us than curtailing it. As adults, instead of dissembling to destroy, we research and after re-align information.
The internal model therefore, is built through education. Therefore, one’s assessment of situations, analysis and creative maneuver through life is dependent on the quality of internal model, hence, the belief that all approaches are subjective. Right now, the battle is between the formal and informal system of training or molding the educare system in the home. With the effects of COVID-19 still biting, the early closure of schools due to Ebola, at this point, it’s the ‘educare’ and ‘educere’ systems in our homes to bail our children out, the more reason to create more time for them and with them.
Create a routine, have structure at home
If ‘educere’ is to happen, children ought to be nurtured now for tomorrow, live today as though they are in tomorrow and waking up early is one of those habits a successful adult, leave alone, learner has to have handy in their pocket. Creating routines for home chores, when media is accessed; including television, family prayer time, study time, cooking time and meals time will enhance family fellowship and responsibility. However, allot people reasonable and ensure that it works, r e pr i m an d i n g anyone who goes against the order.
Teach them the importance of time management
Aid your child to arrange their assignments from most to least important according to the day and where they under plan, ensure to over stretch them so they can learn hard work. At the end of each day, have an evaluation of what they accomplished visa vie what was planned. This helps to
know the areas of improvement but also to identify a point of strength.
Plan the day a day before and evaluate the day in the evening, then plan for the next.
Designate a place for learning
A dining, reading room or a designated corner stuffed with a chair and desk is the best place for learning. Avoid the bedroom and sofas, which are basically for relaxation. Likewise, deal away with all distractions during learning time and do not limit learning to just school assignments.
Reading a story book is learning, reading newspapers is learning too and so is analysing a puzzle. Learning should happen at all times. All you can do as a parent is to direct what information it is, hence being intentional
Allow for flexibility
Have you heard of the tenth beatitude; ‘blessed are the flexible for they shall not break?’ you will not find it in the gospels but is widely used to denote our disposition to change and this fourth point is exactly about that. The children and youth in your home are human beings, hence
wake up with emotions, feelings and expectations too each day. Being accommodative is what will create harmony. Being understanding, realistic with them will nurture them to be understanding and considerate to others.
Let them learn a new skill
With the inquisitive mind children and young people possess, their capacity to absorb information and multiple skills at the same time is so big, just don’t limit them. Allow them to gulf all the skills they can, when opportunities still last, without curtailing curiosity. A new skill can be as simple as baking a cake or any other. It can be as simple as getting one of them teaching others what they are good at. This way, there is no cost implication. Research for something together on google
