Find out how you can contribute to the future of education in the newly announced forum for teachers and parents. Victoria Bagnall from Connections in Mind tells us more.
As a neurodiverse student growing up in the 1980s my experience of education was traumatic to say the least. My mental health will be forever scarred by the experiences and unkind words I was subject to at school. Despite these challenges, probably because of my relative privilege and resilience I have been able to succeed in life and Co-Founded Connections in Mind an organisation which seeks to raise awareness about important brain functions, our executive functions, and unravel beliefs that some people are inherently flawed.
An organisation which recognises the power of emotional literacy and connectedness. A group of dedicated people who help, schools, parents and organisations to learn from the neuroscience and reject shame and punishment as outdated and ineffective tools in personal development.
We believe that with all the knowledge technology and education science available to us there must be a better way to serve the needs of learners, their parents, employers and educators.
A call to action for change within our Education System.
It is important to express that this is not a criticism of teachers. Teachers do an incredible job in impossible circumstances. What this is; is a call to action, to reform the system in which we are forced to operate.
In my work and personal life, I meet people every day who are tired of the current education system, who see it as irrelevant and set up to favour the majority whilst disregarding the needs of minorities. People who see the system as unfair, outdated and divisive. People who would love to see change but feel that they don't have the power to help bring about this change. Change that they and many millions like them need.
These people deserve to be heard.
Announcing The Forum for the Future of Education - 22nd June 2021
Our mission in setting up this event is to give a voice to these grassroots stakeholders in education, to help them feel the power of being one of many who want things to change, to give them a sense of belonging and hope for the future.
The Forum for the Future of Education will be an objective discussion forum, to hear from real people about their views on education, both now and in the future. This is not a tick box, form filling, event. I want to hear people's thoughts when we connect them with others to discuss their experiences and hopes for the future.
I want to hear what gets them excited and what makes them furious.
Some people might say that emotions have no place in education, I wholeheartedly disagree. Emotions make us human. For too long we have trained young people to mask their emotions, at the detriment of their mental health. Emotion is what motivates us, what binds us together and what can drive us apart. It is important to recognise it, to embrace it and work towards building an education system which makes us all feel proud, and excited about the future.
The forum will be an impactful 90 minute online event. Some short speeches and video insights will get us all in the right frame of mind, before we break off into peer groups of 6 (educators, students, parents and employers) to discuss 3 core questions over 45 minutes.
● What is the purpose of education?
● How do you feel about the current education system?
● What should education look like in the future?
We will then come back together to share some of the findings of the event and talk about next steps.
Once you are finished discussing these points our team of university researchers will snap into action; analysing what you have said so that we can get it ready to share with the world. We will share your thoughts, with the press, with government and with action groups to ensure that people sit up and listen to what we have to say.
Please join us at the Forum for the Future of Education.
