Shooting Data

About Education

During the UN High-Level Political Forum I attended this morning the moderator of the event shared a quote with us...

Education is the transmission of civilization.  

Civilization is not inherited; it has to be learned and earned by each generation anew.

Consider education not as the painful accumulation of facts and dates and reigns, not merely the necessary preparation of the individual to earn his keep in the world, but the transmission of our mental, moral, technical and aesthetic heritage as fully as possible to as many as possible, for the enlargement of man’s and woman’s understanding, control, embellishment, and enjoyment of life: the pursuit of happiness.

If men and women are fortunate, they will, before they die, gather up as much as they can of their civilized heritage and transmit it to their children.

And to their final breath they will be grateful for their inexhaustible legacy, knowing that it is our nourishing mother and our lasting life.

~The Lessons of History, by Will and Ariel Durant

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What do you think is the purpose of education?  

Some of my thoughts on that.... I believe that my job as an educator is to inspire students to be curious, passionate, and life-long learners.  Education is more than just preparing students for the workforce.  Educators share the simple yet sacred joy of learning.   See also, My Education Philosophy page

Related Links and Information

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UN High-Level Political Forum Side Event:

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Must order this book... Varieties of Scientific Experience:  Carl Sagan on Science and God via Brain Pickings

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Digital Literacy

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A Science Icon Died 17 Years Ago. In His Last Interview, He Made A Warning That Gives Me Goosebumps.

His dark prediction about the future has become our present.

Jefferson:  It wasn't enough to enshrine some rights in the constitution and the bill of rights, the people had to be educated and they had to practice their skepticism in their education otherwise we don't run the government- the government runs us.

We live in an age based on science and technology with formidable technological powers.

If we don't understand it, by we I mean the general public, if it's something that "oh I'm not good at, that I don't know anything about it", then who is making all the decisions about science and technology that are going to determine what kind of future our children live in?  Just some members of congress, but there's no more than a handful members of congress with any background in science at all.

miracle of life

miracle of life

The animation on this video is truly amazing, made me think of my “What Are the Odds” post.  #perspective

XKCD Finally Takes Physics To Task