Thomas Dalton wrote:
Recently,
I read a report from a French teacher. He enjoys a certain
reputation in the teaching environment, so whilst not all agree with
him, he is certainly listened to by many.
He made a comment which I thought was interesting.
He said "Wikipedia can not be used in the French formal educational
system (schools) because our nation is laic, whilst Wikipedia follows
the neutral point of view. Being laic means that our schools precisely
chose a certain value framework and deliberately educate the kids to
hold certain beliefs and share certain values. On the contrary,
wikipedia holds that all points of view must be given room. For this
reason, Wikipedia is not compatible with our schooling system and should
not be used as a resource".
I found that approach interesting indeed. For once, the issue he was
raising was not so much a question of quality or of stability of the
information, or even of manipulation, but simply a statement "we want
our kids to learn that certain things are true, and others are not true.
Or certain things are good, and others are not good. Wikipedia is a
great resource, but can't be used as teaching support".
Topics that come to my mind are of course topics such as revisionism,
cults, creationism, or pedophilia.
Interesting viewpoint. Wikipedia is incompatible with the French
education system, due to a different definition of "truth". I would
say it's a failing in the French (and many other nation's) education
system, more than anything else, but then if I didn't firmly believe
in NPOV, I wouldn't be emailing foundation-l, would I?
I fear I would consider this approach a little bit too simplistic
Thomas. The goals of education are usually considered to be 4.
Intellectual goal, economic purpose, but also social and political/civic
purpose. Education is a political process, with some political outcomes.
For example, schools are in particular the place where new immigrants
really get integrated, the place where they learn the values of one
nation, and learn a common history, and learn to create a common
background to be able to live with others in harmony.
On that note, the USA schools are actually much more efficient than the
french ones to create a deep feeling of being american. When I lived
there, I was always impressed at how quickly an immigrant was engulfed
in the american way of life. This is not something that my country
succeeds in very well.
Part of the reasons this integration is so efficient is that the schools
somehow follow a certain curricula, teach certain values, choose to
teach or not certain point of views.
One of the things that astonished me when I lived in the USA was to
realise how many americans actually believed in creationism. In France,
even the most fanatic of our catholics believe in evolutionism.
Creationism is not even mentionned at school. I heard that in the USA,
in some schools, it was the opposite. I guess both schools (the french
and the americans ones) would fear using a wikipedia article on the topic.
Well, I firmly believe in NPOV, but as a mom, I also consider that I
should have the freedom to decide 1) what my kids are taught and 2) when
they are offered certain information I consider restricted. I do think
that schools should educate the kids in the value system commonly
followed in a country. I would not ban Wikipedia (it is stupid, the kids
gets to it at home), rather educate teachers to use it well, but I can
not blame someone who considers that Wikipedia can not be confused with
a textbook, adapted to the value system of the nation. I consider that
his view point, not a failure of him. I do not think I am in a position
of considering my position is the truth and his the error :-)
ant
Textbooks are always somewhat slanted, if nothing else to the most
dominant political correctness (or blandness) of the education
authorities in the area in question.
I think the 64 mille franc question is - are there encyclopedias in
French school libraries, and if so, are they general purpose ones, or
are they special education editions for French schools, with
appropriate modifications for local educational standard?
Wikipedia is not a textbook and should not be treated or assessed as
such. It's a reference book analog.
By the way, I love the phrase "engulfed in the american way of life".
Evocative and insightful at the same time.
--
-george william herbert
george.herbert(a)gmail.com
