SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 1981
PROBLEMS OF 'EDUCATING FOR TOMORROW'S WORLD'
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+THERE IS NO PROBLEM EDUCATING FOR YESTERDAY'S WORLD. EDUCATING FOR TOMORROW'S WORLD IS A MUCH HARDER TASK,+ SAID
MR KENNETH TOPLEY, SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION (DESIGNATE), SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION TODAY.
MR TOPLEY EMPHASISED THE DIFFICULTY OF DEVELOPING A CURRICULUM WHICH HELPS PUPILS TO LIVE IN A WORLD WHICH DOES NOT YET EXIST.
+WE HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING THE FUTURE HE SAID,
+ IF THE PRESENT RATE OF CHANGE CONTINUES, HOWEVER, BOTH IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND CONSEQUENTLY IN THE EVERY DAY ARRANGEMENTS FOR LIVING, THEN EACH OF US WILL NEED A STRONG MORAL CENTRE AND A WELL DEVELOPED UNDERSTAND ING OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL PROCESSES IN ORDER TO SURVIVE IN THAT WORLD WITH A DEGREE OF EQUANIMITY.
MR TOPLEY WENT ON TO PROPOSE THAT ATTENTION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO PROBLEMS OF CHOICE,
+HOW DO WE CHOOSE,+ HE ASKED, BETWEEN TAKING UP TENNIS AND SITTING ON ANOTHER COMMITTEE?+.
IT WOULD BE GOOD IF WE COULD ARRIVE AT FURTHER INSIGHTS INTO HOW PEOPLE, VERY DIFFERENT FROM OURSELVES, ACTUALLY THOUGHT. THIS WOULD BE A VITAL HELP IN REALLY GETTING ALONG WITH THEM, HE SAID.
TURNING TO THE FIELDS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, HE SAID THE METHODS AND LANGUAGE OF SCIENCE RATHER THAN THE DOGMAS AND CONCLUSIONS OF SCIENCE WOULD BE VITAL FOR HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND AND MANAGE THEIR ENVIRONMENT. BOTH IN MORALS AND SCIENCE WE WOULD NEED TO CONCENTRATE MORE ON THE QUESTIONS AND LESS ON THE ANSWERS.
+CHILDREN ARE BRIGHT, AND IF WE CAN POINT TO THE QUESTIONS,
THEY WILL WORK OUT THE ANSWERS, HE SAID.
HE CONGRATULATED THE ASSOCIATION ON THEIR WORK IN ENRICHING THE SYLLABUS AND DEVELOPING THE MINDS AND SKILLS OF TEACHERS.
+YOU HAVE SEEN CLEARLY THAT CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT STARTS WITH THE INDIVIDUAL TEACHER AND THAT IT IS ON HIS UNDERSTANDING AND ENTHUSIASM THAT ALL SOUND DEVELOPMENTS MUST BE BASED, HE SAID.
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