Hi,
On page 34 of the Straits Times is an interesting article
that discusses about the topic.
The last two paragraphs appeal the most to me, and I'd
like to share with both teachers and students.
Instead of trying an integrated education from
theoretical first principles, why not begin with questions which
require the coordination of different knowledges to answer? "Who
are we? What is the nature of human nature? How should we be
related to the planet on which we live? How are we to live together
satisfactorily? What is the relationship between nature and
nurture? If we start with these problems..., we can bring together
information from a great number of at present completely isolated
disciplines."
Such a pragmatic approach might be something we might
adopt in our quest for a "holistic" education - an approach that
begins with the questions: So why do you want to know different
things? What for?
For me as an educator, I must constantly remind myself
that I am teaching not because the content is in the prescribed
syllabus. It will be helpful for students to motivate themselves to
develop a sense of curiosity and to study for the sake of acquiring
a better understanding of the world around them.
Thanks.
P.S. I realised that it is through students' questions that
I am able to teach and write better.
Cheers,
Wen Shih