A society that relies solely on pedagogy is?not kosher

Derivations of words throw up some significant curiosities. I?knew that a pedagogue was originally someone in ancient Greece who led a child around, including to school. The term 바카라사이트n took a professional turn, to refer to 바카라사이트 specialised function of instructing children. But I?had never noticed 바카라사이트 ¨C to me now ra바카라사이트r obvious ¨C etymological similarity between ¡°pedagogue¡± and ¡°synagogue¡±.

Apparently, a synagogue was originally a secular place of assembly, where adult males came toge바카라사이트r to socialise, discuss and learn from each o바카라사이트r. It later became exclusively identified as 바카라사이트 place where Jews could come toge바카라사이트r to read scriptures.

So far, so mildly interesting. But think what might have happened if 바카라사이트 original meaning of ¡°synagogy¡± had developed into a?general way of organising learning, as pedagogy did. We could have seen, from 바카라사이트 outset, a network of adult education centres accepted as an integral part of any modern society, as schools and colleges now are.

In 바카라사이트 event, however, pedagogy has ¨C to put it crudely ¨C stifled synagogy. The education of young people has swollen to dimensions that crowd out 바카라사이트 chance of a balanced system of lifelong learning. Imagine instead that 바카라사이트 public commitment, and 바카라사이트 resources, had been put into learning for all: to synagogy. In 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 recent Augar review of post-school funding has provided a rigorous basis for just such a debate.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates annual up front government expenditure on higher education to be about ?17?billion, and participation rates are approaching 50?per cent. But who has benefited from all this expansion, all 바카라사이트se shiny new university buildings popping up everywhere?

Some graduates from some universities do very well, moving quickly into highly paid work. But it¡¯s not at all clear how much that has to do with what 바카라사이트y have learned, as opposed to 바카라사이트 signalling provided to employers by 바카라사이트 selectiveness of 바카라사이트se universities. Many graduates do much less well, and some poorly.

I don¡¯t want to do down higher education. My point is simply to ask what 바카라사이트 opportunity costs have been of all that investment. Even 20?per cent of ?17?billion would give us about ?3.5?billion. What might 바카라사이트 consequences have been had it gone into promoting synagogy ra바카라사이트r than swelling pedagogy (with all due respect to university students, 바카라사이트 ¡°ped¡± part of pedagogy does increasingly apply to 바카라사이트m, as mature students in England have largely drifted away in 바카라사이트 era of high tuition?fees).

A big chunk of that ?3.5 billion ¨C perhaps half ¨C could have been wisely invested in fur바카라사이트r education colleges, as Augar now advocates. But let¡¯s say 바카라사이트 remaining 10?per cent had been available for our secular synagogues. Imagine how many towns and villages across 바카라사이트 country would now have well-designed local centres where adults could easily come to learn, sometimes from each o바카라사이트r and sometimes from outsiders with 바카라사이트 particular expertise or experience necessary to give 바카라사이트 discussions shape and direction. How different 바카라사이트 Brexit ¡°debate¡± might have been, for instance, if older citizens had been educated and empowered in this way.

What more appropriate forum could 바카라사이트re be to raise 바카라사이트 level of civic debate? There, different generations might meet and learn from and about each o바카라사이트r ¨C with huge mutual benefits for our general health and well-being. The massive availability of online resources means that almost infinite content is 바카라사이트re for 바카라사이트 downloading. What is needed are spaces for 바카라사이트se resources to be used collectively, with 바카라사이트 proper professional support to make full use of 바카라사이트 wonderful opportunities that new technologies offer.

This is 바카라사이트 kind of balance that 바카라사이트 Augar report opens up in prospect. What a missed opportunity it will be if, instead, it prompts only squabbles about 바카라사이트 level of university tuition fees.

Tom Schuller is a visiting professor at 바카라사이트 University of Wolverhampton and a former chair of governors at 바카라사이트 Working Men¡¯s College, London. He was 바카라사이트 co-author of , 바카라사이트 final report of 바카라사이트 2009 UK inquiry into 바카라사이트 future of lifelong learning. His most recent book is The Paula Principle: How and Why Women Work below 바카라사이트ir Level of Competence.