Breaking Free from Perfectionism: Lessons from Audrey Tang
After entering junior high school in Taiwan, Audrey felt the limitations of school education and began homeschooling. With the consideration of a progressive principal, she only attended school on exam days, allowing her to build her own unique knowledge system. In the process, she audited university philosophy lectures and realized the importance of having a correct answer that differs from others. She broke free from the influence of childhood competition and perfectionist education, cultivating an awareness of solving problems collectively rather than individually. Learning that shares knowledge like a jigsaw puzzle without seeking model answers helps overcome the drawbacks of meritocracy and is considered meaningful in reducing the burden on individuals.
Yesterday, I talked about how teaching knowledge in schools is no longer necessary.
Schools must not remain in their current system.
This is an article about Audrey Tang, who was quick to realize this.
I will introduce a particularly impressive passage.
Sandel points out that elite education has other drawbacks. It is the emergence of "perfectionist sequelae" among students who have been constantly selected by exams and forced into fierce battles.Perfectionist sequelaeThey become mentally ill from trying too hard to achieve good grades and increase their own value.This is the reason why adolescent depression has been steadily increasing around the world over the past few decades.The reality Audrey felt when she was bullied in elementary school was exactly the same.
Everyone is just competing for rankings and has lost their curiosity about life.
The school education I received was also exactly within this flow.
Those with good grades are amazing.
Therefore, I strive to raise my deviation score even a little.
But, originally, this is a sensitive period.
It should be important to gain more various experiences and broaden one's perspective.
When we talk about education, we tend to feel that "someone has a monopoly on the correct answer."However, in the world we live in, the situation is constantly changing. Since newly emerged situations are not incorporated into existing knowledge systems, known coping methods cannot be applied as they are.
There are no model answers, and we have no choice but to deal with them through repeated examination and discussion.Each of us is like a piece of a jigsaw puzzle that fills the gaps in knowledge.In a jigsaw puzzle, there is no concept of competition, such as who is first or who is second. We just connect one by one.
Applying this way of thinking to the theory of knowledge, it can be said that each of our subjective views and experiences is invaluable and irreplaceable.It is not necessary for everyone to memorize the same content 100 percent accurately. In the modern age where technology has developed, computers will do that for us. However, computers do not have the ability to respond to a constantly changing world.
Instead of aiming for high deviation scores and becoming a person who can answer every question correctly,
we should bring the answers that each individual has,
and respond to social issues through repeated discussion and dialogue.
Computers will supplement our knowledge.
If so, how should school education change?
Helping children feel confident that they are jigsaw puzzle pieces,
and fostering a mindset of trying to combine with each other,
is that not what is required?