Leadership and Learning

                                                                                                                   What is the Primary Purpose of Education?

                                                                                                                                           Timothy Stagich, Ph.D.

What is the primary purpose of education? Most educators and leaders believe the main purpose of education is to prepare our young people for the future by giving them the knowledge and the skills necessary to be successful as future employees and citizens. If this is true, and most of us can agree on this primary purpose, then we must reform our present system of education in America. We are not at this time preparing our students adequately enough for their roles as future leaders, employees and citizens.

 For example, much of our curriculum in primary education is focused on the important skills of writing, reading and math, and yet, the rate of illiteracy in America continues to rise. Also, more and more teachers are being forced by administrators to teach to the test in order to raise the test scores of students. Yet, most studies support the fact that students forget up to ninety percent of what they learn through memorization within one year. In secondary education, the curriculum is expanded to include courses in history, science and higher levels of math. However, graduation rates of high school students are continuing to decline with fewer students choosing to move on to college and less interest in pursuing science or math. And, in higher education the curriculum and fields of study are becoming so narrow that students are failing to make the necessary connections of their disciplines with the real world.  And, if they do not actually lose interest, they are entering the working world with only the narrowest of understanding of how their disciplines relate to other areas and without the collaborative and team leadership skills to interact successfully in the workplace. Instead, the competition for grades and academic success taught them only how to treat their colleagues as competitors with a fundamental distrust and inability to facilitate higher levels of problem solving and group motivation. And, the primary learning outcome of this system is self-serving aggression as these students develop little interest in working with others unless it is for their own benefit.

 So, what is the answer for improving education and fulfilling the primary purpose to prepare our youth for the future by giving them the knowledge and skills necessary to be truly successful as future leaders, employees and citizens? The answer involves doing a better job of building the knowledge and skills of success as leaders and learners into the curriculum. These skills include teamwork, problem solving, critical thinking, communication skills and active listening abilities. And, all of these skills that are necessary for success as learners and leaders will help students succeed both academically and socially. Through collaborative learning and teamwork, students learn to think of others first. And, as problem solvers in collaborative groups, students learn to work through issues instead of just political posturing and looking for quick and easy solutions to difficult problems. As critical thinkers, students learn how to view issues from multiple perspectives and to see problems from another person’s point of view. If they learn to put themselves into someone else’s shoes even one for a minute, they will become better people as well as better teammates and group leaders. And, through improved communication skills from greater collaborative group interaction, students learn the self-confidence necessary for success as they find their voice and ability to convey ideas successfully through group interaction. Finally, through active listening skills, students learn to listen for understanding and not only to gain a competitive edge. As they actually begin to listen to and hear what others are saying through collaborative group work, they become better able to build on ideas and work through issues.

 All of these skills can be built into the existing curriculum of education in every course of study. Or, they can be added to the curriculum with opportunities for extra credit in group problem solving and community service outside of class. And, these skills with their learning outcomes will enable every teacher to enrich their teaching in ways that will help students to better connect with each other and the world around them. Teaching to the test and the race to put students on the fast track to graduation have caused these skills and real teaching opportunities to be neglected. And, we are failing to adequately prepare our students for success as future leaders, learners, employees and citizens.

 We can change all of this through greater focus on collaborative learning and leadership and by focusing more on the learning outcomes of teamwork, problem solving, critical thinking, communication and active listening. Through this renewed effort of skill development, changing our approach to curriculum, and helping teachers to improve their teaching, much can be accomplished to reform education. This revamping of curriculum and teaching will give our graduates a better chance at success as future leaders and lifetime learners in their chosen fields of study.

 Copyright, 2010, Global Leadership Resources: For teaching or classroom use only.

                                                                             Discussion Questions

  1. What are the interdisciplinary learning outcomes that should be the focus of every course of study and curriculum from primary through higher education?
  2. What skills are essential for success in becoming better learners and leaders?
  3. Discuss how the social and cognitive skills work together to improve both academic performance and collaborative leadership in the workplace.
  4. Why have the social skills necessary for success been neglected in education?
  5. What do studies show about how people really learn and why are both the social and cognitive skills essential for this process?
  6. Why have students lost interest or have failed to connect their studies in a relevant way to the world around them?
  7. How can teachers improve their teaching and help to make their subjects more relevant and interesting to their students?
  8. How can administrators and curriculum developers help teachers to improve their teaching and make the content richer for the students?
  9. Why are memorization and only cognitive study not enough to enable students to relate to the material, learn and remember for the long term?
  10. Develop a curriculum based upon the social and cognitive interdisciplinary skills.

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