1. The Vision of Education 1 Key Issues and Ideas 2 Implications 3 Our Vision of Education 4 Desired Outcomes of Education 5 Challenges Faced TOPIC 1:
2.
3.
4.
5. Socrates proposed an all-rounded curriculum to prepare the “guardians” to be leaders of the state. According to Plato in Republic , Socrates believed that education should start early with music, poetry and physical training (Plato, trans. 1992).
6. In terms of the curriculum, Confucius highlighted the need to learn the “six arts”: ritual, music, archery, chariot-riding, calligraphy and computation. The wisdom of ancient sages was also emphasised, as well as the mastery of li, the ritual forms and rules of propriety .
7.
8. Socrates “was always conversing about the human things – examining what is pious, what is impious, what is noble, what is shameful, what is just, what is unjust, what is moderation, what is madness, what is courage, what is cowardice, what is a city, what is a statesman, what is rule over human beings, what is a skilled ruler over human beings, as well as other things knowledge of which he believed makes one a gentleman , while those who are ignorant of these would be justly called slavish” ( Memorabilia 1.1.16, by Xenophon, trans. 1994).
9. Confucius similarly taught that learning was an integral part of acquiring moral and civic virtues: “ To love benevolence without loving learning is liable to lead to foolishness. To love cleverness without loving learning is liable to lead to deviation from the right path. To love trustworthiness in word without loving learning is liable to lead to harmful behaviour. To love forthrightness without loving learning is liable to lead to intolerance. To love courage without loving learning is liable to lead to insubordination. To love unbending strength without loving learning is liable to lead to indiscipline” ( Analects 17.8, trans. Lau, 1979).
10. Confucius similarly taught that learning was an integral part of acquiring moral and civic virtues: 孔子说：“好仁不好学，其蔽也愚；好智不好学，其蔽也荡；好信不好学，其蔽也贼；好直不好学，其蔽也绞；好勇不好学，其蔽也乱；好刚而不好学，其蔽也狂。”
11.
12.
13. Education Educate comes from Latin words ‘ educare’ , to bring up or rear, and ‘ educere’ , to draw or lead forth.
22. Group Discussion MOE Officials (Education System in Singapore) Question 1: To what extent do you think schools in Singapore have succeeded in preparing students with the desired skills, knowledge, values and attitudes? Question 2: What recommendations do you have to achieve the above aim? Teachers (Schools) Question 1: What challenges and problems do you think schools in Singapore face in trying to achieve the aim of preparing students with the desired skills, knowledge, values and attitudes? Question 2: What suggestions do you propose to help schools achieve the above aim? Employers (Society) Question 1: Do you think that the current education system in Singapore produces candidates with the right skills and values to cope with the needs of today’s labour market? Question 2: What recommendations do you have to achieve the above aim?
![The Vision on Education ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)