2023-09-26 23:30:52
Maria Dobronozhenko
2 hours ago
Writers of the past often loved to fantasize and imagine what the world would be like in the future: there was a lot of talk regarding this, and many books were written. Some of the “predictions” came true, but others remained just a fantasy. But which of the classics foresaw the future of education, and who dreamed too much?
A. and B. Strugatsky “Predatory things of the century”
Education is the main driving force of society. People live ordinary, measured lives, they have free entertainment and a four-day work week (a real consumer society). True, there are rebels who are not satisfied with this life and they kill local residents, wanting to somehow stir up this world. There is a professor in the city who observes all this and studies the instinctive activities of people.
How it happened in life:
Consumer society is our reality. We can live, work, shop without leaving home! Some countries have even started testing a four-day working week. And many people are happy with this life, but many people don’t like it.
Evgeniy Zamyatin “We”
Zamyatin wrote this work in 1920, only the book took place in the 32nd century! The author described a society of strict totalitarianism and complete control of every person: even children (free thinking is punishable here). A new discipline, “child education,” is even being created in schools. Only certain women might give birth to children, and the babies were raised by robots.
How it happened in life:
In the USSR, in the post-war period, dissent was strictly punished in schools. And with robots, Zamyatin hit the nail on the head, however, it is becoming real now – more and more robot assistants are being invented every day.
Aldous Huxley “Brave New World”
Only children from elite families study at Eton, but both boys and girls study here. They are not taught classics, only reference literature. They are taught through hypnosis and from a very early age are introduced to the rules of sex and death (every child, starting from the age of one and a half years, spends twice a week in the Dying Room).
How it happened in life:
As a result, only boys from elite families study. Hypnosis is not used in education, and there is no meter education here. As Huxley described in his book, they don’t talk regarding sex with children here, but still in some schools teachers pay special attention to this topic.
George Orwell “1984”
Politicians influence the minds of children and make them their “slaves.” From childhood, children are taught to spy and report on everything, even regarding their parents, and they are propagated by politicians through the game with Big Brother, because it is believed that childhood is a continuous game.
How it happened in life:
Sometimes you want to say: “Orwell was right” and Big Brother is really watching us (for our own safety), although not through children. And as they say, thank you.
H.G. Wells “Men Like Gods”
Herbert created an ideal world where there is no poverty, no wealth, no laziness, no evil – everyone works equally for the good of society and is very happy. Children are helped to discover their talents, help them find work and reach their full potential.
In this Utopia, the school helps every person to reveal themselves 100% and choose their true path, so in the world every person is in his place. But adults do not need politics, laws, or police – they live by the rules learned in childhood and do not commit mistakes or evil deeds.
How it happened in life:
Of course, we are far from such a level in reality, but humanity is already taking small steps towards this: parents and teachers are increasingly helping children to discover their abilities, and the children themselves are already becoming more conscious: they know what they want and how to achieve it, develop and achieve success much earlier than previous generations.
Photo source: still from the film
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#education #works #utopias #dystopias #20th #century
