[Session 13] Two Major Trends of Pedagogy (3) Paradox of Education
- Introduction -

 Education means conducting two acts at the same time; teaching (transmitting culture to the next generation) and nurturing (helping children grow up). We have integrated these two things, the nature of each being apparently different, in order to help improve a child's education. Every parent wants his/her child to grow up to be a good person. Every adult wants　young people to grow up to be good individuals. However, we have no idea of how we should live life in order to be good individuals... This is the paradox of education.

 If those who teach regard themselves as being well aware of "good," they tend to be obtrusive by putting too much emphasis on teaching. Conversely, if we consider "good" exists inside children, we can do nothing but nurture. In either case, although we have no idea what "good," is, we cannot help but work on children so that children may grow up to be good individuals. Such a paradox must be recognized, said Minoru Murai, an educational philosopher.

"In my opinion, educators have to start their career by recognizing that education itself is a paradox. Therefore, educators have to decide to take on the paradox while they pursue their work." (Minoru Murai, Introduction to Pedagogy Vol.2 (Kodansha Gakujyutsu Bunko, 1976), p.148)

Note: Minoru Murai states that those who are educated, represented by children, are, to be precise, called "humans who are expected to grow" and it doesn't matter how old they are. (Minoru Murai, Introduction to Pedagogy Vol.1 (Kodansha Gakujyutsu Bunko, 1976), p.17)

Supplementary materials (written and translated into English by Suzuki for this page)
Exhortation to "New Exhortation to Pedagogy" (Philanthropism of Minoru Murai: a PDF file)
Open up a PDF file (3Pages/ 45KB)

 At pages 35-50 of Ichio Numano, Information Society and Teachers' Mission (Kokudosha, Kyoiku Sensho 8, 1986), there is an explanation of how education differs from advertising and breeding, and the paradox of education. I want you to read this book as well as Minoru Murai's New Exhortation to Pedagogy (Shogakkan), introduced above. Numano's book is such a fine work that I urge you to read it. Open up a PDF file (6Pages/ 25KB), English translation, pp35-50.

 The Task of this Session is to tackle the question of what education is. It is said that when we think about what X is, we should think about what is NOT X. Accordingly, I would like to draw on the words, "advertising" and "breeding," which are similar to education but somewhat different from education. Let's discuss methods to distinguish education from "advertising" and "breeding." I'm sure everybody needs to know Numano's opinions in order to answer the question.

 In addition, let's consider why many teachers provide an education which children do not want. Isn't it something other than an obtrusion? How about education at schools or workplaces? What is education based on "needs"? I'm sure it will be helpful to refer to the "paradox of education" argued in both aspects of teaching and nurturing, and the philanthropism of Dr. Murai. Talk about these topics freely. Let's create a lively discussion by making comments together.