"It is in fact nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods ofinstruction have not yet entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry; forthis delicate little plant, aside from stimulation, stands mainly in need offreedom; without this it goes to wrack and ruin without fail." - AlbertEinstein
According to Rogers (1983) in his book Freedom to Learn, our educationalsystem is failing to meet the real needs of our society. Schools, generally andtraditionally, constitute the most conservative, inflexible, bureaucraticinstitution of our time, and arguably the institution most resistant to change.However, Rogers (1983) said that new, promising developments were surfacing,including alternative schools, open classrooms, opportunities for independentstudy and an assortment of other developments were/are emerging presently.
As a result, Rogers concluded his introductory chapter in Freedom to Learn asfollows: "I hope that for you, the reader, the book will be a provocativesignpost pointing toward what education might become in your own life in that ofthe learners whom you influence" (Rogers, 1982).
For further elaboration on Rogers educational philosophies, explore thefollowing:
* What does it mean to teach?
* What is learning?
* Can teachers be human in the classroom?
* How can teachers be "real" inthe classroom?
* Qualities that will facilitate freedomin the classroom
* The politics ofeducation: the person-centered mode