The C.L.B. Report

Redefining Education: Cultivating the Soul

The following excerpts are from “Redefining Education: Cultivating the Soul”, by Thomas Moore.  

We pride ourselves on the things we possess, and we go to school to learn things. 

The things we learn are all sorted out and grouped together: We learn mathematical things and scientific things and even psychological things. 

At school, students cram for an exam. “Cram” means to fill up or stuff. Well, if you’re stuffing yourself for an exam, you must be filling yourself with things.

That’s how we imagine education: filling our minds with stuff.  

The Greeks of old had a different idea that they called paideia. This was education conceived as creating a cultured person who would be a mature citizen and leader. 

Imagine if our focus in education was on the person rather than the things studied. We’d be concerned that a student grow up and learn how to deal with life and help others deal with it as well.

This education has two purposes: self-ripening and leadership.

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