Excellent sheep

I have been a teacher in the study abroad industry for many years, and my job is to help students enter world-class schools. Undoubtedly, it is a valuable thing to help others realize their dreams, but there is always another voice in my heart. This book has criticized my heart disease, both my own sheep and the process of making sheep. Although the latter chapters of the book are somewhat contradictory, it does not hide its unique and responsible educational concept, which is commendable.

Dare to change the original chapter and divide the book into three parts: the creation of sheep, the education of self-awakening, and the abandonment of the social significance of elite education. The following is a quote from the book, by the way, lyrical.

the first part of the creation of sheep

at present, famous students are "kidnapped by self-image protection and meeting social expectations", and their hearts become confused and fragile. They always sacrifice deep-seated basic needs such as health, friendship and love in exchange for grades and resumes, and even sell their souls. University companies constantly raise the admission threshold to attract more young people, and accordingly, "people also narrowly measure the value of education with short-term return rate or practicality". As a result, young people under elite education seriously lack insight into themselves, and by virtue of inertia, they enter the pursuit competition for "wealth, qualifications and reputation" and are highly homogeneous.

Historically, elite schools originated from the need of the elite to preserve their status, and gradually their selection system shifted from class and connections to examinations and grades. But even in the latter, there is a serious inclination of the rich. "Wealthy families have taken advantage in various ways: hiring private teachers to help improve their scores." The third party's ranking of world universities has even exploded this famous school game, so it is generally felt in the society that "the elite lifestyle of famous schools is the only way to happiness". Under this "rude upward trend", it is no wonder that parents have been instilling "narrow career choices" in their children. The whole society is irrational, and children feel that they have "no choice". The pursuit of perfection is also to motivate parents or the outside world to eliminate their dissatisfaction, but they can never satisfy the hunger of "I am the best".

Part II Education of Self-awakening

"The responsibility of universities is to teach students how to think first", and then help them become more alert, responsible, free and complete. Socrates' way is to listen to students' opinions, heuristically map the questions back, or force students to express their views clearly. Students must first admit the essence of their own opinions and defend them, examine their opinions from a rigorous perspective under the spotlight, analyze their thoughts, examine their thoughts with critical logic, gradually cultivate their reason and learn to think independently in discomfort. In the classroom of liberal arts education, students participate in debates, oppose in principle, and interact and communicate with each other with mutual respect.

The mission of the university is to make you more interesting. The reason why it is "interesting" is that people read a lot, are used to thinking, slow down, engage in in in-depth dialogue, and create a full inner world for themselves. If at the time of graduation, "your beliefs, values, wishes and life goals remain the same, then you will lose everything." When choosing a career after college, people need to have spiritual imagination and courage, and take the initiative to do what they like best. No matter what the result is, "this will be their own life, choice and even mistakes". If "you try to reject uncertainty, then you reject the meaning of life". We just need to concentrate, live simply, live in the present, accept failure and ask for nothing in return.

Liberal Education is strongly advocated in the book, and extensive reading and appreciation of art are highly appreciated. "When we read articles or appreciate works of art, the most critical question is not whether I understand it, but whether it can arouse my * * *". The Latin meaning of "education" is to inspire. What students need is "a tutor who challenges students' ability and pays attention to their personal development" and the form of small class discussion. At this point, many English literature teachers have done a good job. Unfortunately, in the first-class universities, the promotion system of professors and online teaching make the needs of students become a bubble.

The third part abandons the social significance of elite education

The inaction of university education on the problem of lower and lower social mobility forces students to yield to the score contract and nourishes the arrogance. Universities should educate young people who are "more tolerant of setbacks, more independent, more curious about the world, more creative, more willing to take risks and make mistakes", thus creating a truly fair social environment.

After rereading, I still feel that the first two parts of the article are enlightening, and the warnings and strategies are very valuable. However, the last part is still a bit vague, and the conclusion actually weakens the previous views.