Small steps, please, not giant leaps

Ideas presented in a lecture presented by Brazilian Senator Cristovam Buarque at the seminar to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the Lei de Diretrizes e Bases da Educação, sponsored by the Getúlio Vargas Foundation in Rio de Janeiro (Sep 19^th, 2016).

1. Sen. Buarque and many other specialists and legislators defend a leap in the quality of the Brazilian educational system.

The problem most likely lies in the choice of the word “leap” – we have to stop wanting to make leaps and start thinking of steps. We can’t jump if we are carrying a lot of extra weight.

1. The teacher has to speak the language of the youth, the language of modern technologies, and the school, in turn, has to be offered fulltime, with the inclusion of language teaching, in order to teach “everything” and get kids off the streets and away from the television.

   We can’t expect to speak the language of the students if we want to get them away from the TV. TV viewing has become part of their lives and how they see the world – through movies, series, video clips and games and they watch not in front of the physical screen. Most of the times, they connect via smartphones or tablets. What’s more, the senator’s proposition implies that learning only takes place in the traditional classroom, that the school is the only valid learning space, an idea that is being challenged by the un-schooling and homeschooling practices,

1. Education policy cannot be tied to a political party or politician in power at the time. it has to be approved at all levels – federal, state and municipal – and by the community. This guarantees the continuity of programs regardless of who is in power.

Education and health are two areas that should be leverage for parties or political/economic groups who seek their interests only. This is the biggest challenge facing education today.

1. “The Brazilian people do not value education as a whole”.

How can you value something you have not been exposed to? it has been proven time and time again that when people are exposed to manifestations of art and culture, they appreciate what is good, what is fine, what is supreme. With education, this would not be the same.

1. ‘Education has to be priority of the Office of the President. There should a separate ministry for primary and secondary education. Tertiary education should be under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Science and Technology.”

Is jurisdiction really what matters? What is not clear is how compartmentalizing the three levels of education will ensure efficiency.