Hello, and welcome to part 3 of my essay on how to build a better society. If you missed the previous two parts, here are some handy dandy links for you to check out:
This section will be on education and training, because it will all need to change once robots come for our jobs at every level of every sector. We’re going to want a population that can think and not just do what they’re told like good little worker slaves. Yes, I am getting a little salty with these posts, because look around. I remember posting several years ago about Malthusian Limits and how we were approaching one at the time. This is it, folks. What’s happening now is what it looks like when that limit is reached.
The good news is, life usually gets a lot better on the other side. The bad news is, there is likely going to be a lot of pain, struggle, and death before we reach it. And for that, unfortunately, I don’t have a solution. Smarter people than me have tried, and they came up with some ideas to make the process shorter, to resist and fight back, but the only way out, as far as I know, is to go through it.
My heart and soul ache watching the horrors rise up daily. This is me sharing what little light I have to give to battle the darkness. Something to dream about, to wish for, and to aim for.
Standard disclaimer: I am not an economist or sociologist. I just call it like I see it, having observed the clusterfuck that is end stage capitalism and the initiatives other countries have tried that are proving to be successful in fixing it. I’m just taking it a few steps further in the same direction.
Here we go…
An educated population is a strong population. The purpose of school is not to churn out productive workers, but to train young people how to think, how to solve problems, and how to function in every-day society. It should prepare students for all aspects of life, including independent living, cohabitation, stress management, maintaining their mental and physical health, forming communities, raising children, etc. To that end, the following are required in a healthy, well-functioning society:
No Cost
Education is tuition-free at every level of learning. Textbooks must be available on a loan basis: students receive copies of study materials required for the course at the beginning of the year/semester and return them at the end of the course. If the materials are damaged, the student pays the cost of purchasing a new copy for the school. Students only pay for supplies they will use (pens, pencils, notebooks, calculators, housing, food, etc.).
As a reminder, education is funded by taxes and corporate contributions within the community.
Education Requirements
Primary and secondary education are required for all children. Reasonable accommodations must be available where and as required, including assistive devices, tutoring services, and virtual attendance, if applicable and necessary.
Extended education (tertiary schooling or vocational training) is voluntary, but highly encouraged with incentives that may include small stipends. This is to ensure that a society always has enough people to fill vital positions in healthcare, education, etc. where the cost of education or lack of livable wages are currently creating dangerous shortages. As these types of positions must always exist in every community, every community education system must offer these education programs at the highest quality possible.
All students will be held to high standards of achievement. No student will be allowed to pass or graduate without proving full and complete comprehension and mastery of the materials, and competence in executing the tasks that will be required of them on the job. This also includes having the moral compass, and mental, physical and emotional fortitude required to perform the job.
Bribery is illegal and will incur a fine and potential prison sentence for both the briber and the bribee. Those who accept bribes will be permanently removed from their position and barred from employment in the education sector again. This applies to teachers, professors, TAs, administrators, deans, and janitors. No one is exempt.
Cheating is an offense punishable by disciplinary action in primary and secondary levels, and immediate expulsion in tertiary. The purpose of education is to ensure that you can live a good life and perform a job without putting yourself or others at risk. There is no room for compromise here.
Keep in mind, this is in the context of a society that already provides a UBI. If your basic financial needs are met, and education is free, there is zero risk to you in pursuing a specific career. You are not losing anything except time by trying to force yourself into a field or career which you cannot reasonably manage. And there is no cost to changing your mind and trying something else instead.
Education in and of itself can be fulfilling. But to ensure the safety and well-being of all, people who eventually get jobs serving the community at higher levels have to be competent enough to do so. Period. End of story.
Curriculum Requirements
Curriculum at all levels must include age-appropriate general education courses. This includes art, literature, music, physical education, human biology, sexual education, mental health, two foreign languages, and sign language.
Under the umbrella of “practical living,” students must be taught basic life skills, including but not limited to cooking, cleaning and home maintenance, basic farming principles (so you know where your food comes from and can grow your own herb garden, and not let your pet chicken starve), budgeting and taxes, basic research methodologies (how to find stuff you don’t know about), critical thinking, civics/politics, social interaction, child care, elder care, self-care (physical, mental, and emotional), empathy, and basic etiquette.
The days of just training for a specific job or task list are over. We are turning out capable, well-rounded individuals who can cope with anything life throws at them, and have enough of a knowledge base to think their way out of a wet paper bag. I cannot stress how important this is for a society to thrive.
The Learning Environment
Class size is limited to a maximum of 15 students per teacher for K-12. School start and end times are determined with the students’ health and safety in mind. K-12 students do not spend more than 5 hours at school on any given day. No more than 1 hour of homework can be assigned on any given day (all classes combined). Where attendance is mandatory for the full day, a free breakfast and lunch must be provided, and there must be a 30 minute break for naps or other restful activities. For half-days, free breakfast must be provided.
Class size for higher education is limited to 35 per professor/trainer. While self-pacing is allowed, it is recommended that students do not spend more than 4 hours in structured classes on any given day. For every 4 hours in class, 2 additional hours should be spent on practical application, group projects, or independent study, depending on field of study.
Vocational training for specialty fields must also include general education courses, same as college/university programs. No exceptions.
Learning resources outside of structured schooling are available online and through the library system, where independent students can pursue and complete degrees at their own pace.
Religion, Politics, and Censorship in Schools
Access to information is free in every sense of the word. We do not gatekeep knowledge. Censorship, whitewashing, or altering known and proven facts is illegal. Historical events are presented through facts and (where available) first-hand accounts. An independent committee evaluates all materials for potential biases and hate speech. Indoctrinating documents or biased/prejudiced presentations are illegal. Propaganda and rhetoric that marginalizes or targets any distinct group for discrimination or violence is also illegal.
Works of fiction cannot be censored or banned, except in severe cases where the material clearly promotes violence/hate against marginalized or at-risk groups, including women and children. Municipal and school libraries must both carry a variety of materials and it is up to the parents/teachers/librarians to steer children toward age-appropriate content.
No individual or institution engaged in any form of education or training is allowed to impose any religious or political philosophies. Religion and politics must be taught in the context of survey courses, where multiple viewpoints are presented with equal weight and gravity. Religious education may be conducted by religious institution separately. These institutions are barred from providing any education or training outside of theology and vocational training for students joining the order.
Coming Up…
Ok, so now we have the basis for taking care of people and making sure they’re properly set up to live full, happy lives however they see fit. Next, I want to address another elephant in the room: healthcare. That will be the topic of part 4 of this series, so check back in a couple of weeks to see what I come up with.
In the meantime, it’s the holidays. We just had the longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere. Go relax, watch a movie, have a cup of hot chocolate (or tea), and try to think of all the good things that still exist in life—because they do, you know. And the more we lean into them, the less the bad stuff can mess with our heads.
Also, if you’re still looking for last-minute gifts, it might be too late to order books but, speaking from personal experience, a bookstore gift card is always appreciated. Try to support your local Indie bookstore, if you can, or any bookstore that’s not Amazon. If you can buy directly from the author, even better.
Books are the cheapest magic you can find these days, and I’m not exaggerating when I say we could all use some.
I wish you the warmest, most beautiful holiday season filled with love, friendship, and all the good things life has to offer. May the New Year embrace you gently and give you respite from the struggles of the old. May fortune and favor find you wherever you go, and may the universe conspire to make all your dreams come true.
Until next time!