So me too I had a dream.
Is there a hidden plan for education: expensive private schools and, for the good people, almost worthless state schools?
A dream where, like a European CAP (Common Agricultural Policy), we would have a European CEP (Common Educational Policy).
A dream where a Common Democratic Policy, built on a Common Educational Policy, would become the equal of a Common Defense Policy, ideally with the same political will and the same European means.
With respect for everyone
A dream where, within this PEC, with respect for everyone, we could develop and share common democratic and civic values which we currently lack so much but which would strengthen our links within the Union.
A dream where we would manage to build a truly common “common core”, which would strengthen, for future citizens, exchanges, mobility, research.
A truly common “common core” which would (in short) give new impetus to the Erasmus Program, one of Europe’s (most) great successes.
A truly common “common core” which would ultimately reduce the insidious competition between schools, and therefore between students.
A truly common “common core” which should, ultimately, stop reproducing inequalities and restore to Schools their true capacity to train responsible citizens, open to dialogue, capable of building collective solutions.
A truly common “common core” which should restore the School’s ability to train citizens with a critical, open, curious mind, respectful of others and their environment.
At the beginning, I believed in the Pact of Excellence. It took me a while to perceive the trap
Incidentally, this would potentially allow you to make significant savings…
In fact, if you look closely, this dream is ultimately quite accessible (and from my point of view, only has advantages).
In Europe, in the world of Education, we already share many points in common: obviously relatively equivalent holidays and “school years”, comparable school rhythms, shared learning of subjects and languages: mathematics (which in itself is already a language universal), languages (native or foreign), history, geography, sciences, sports and artistic education, philosophical or religious courses…
In fact, on closer inspection, it seems (to me) easier to harmonize the educational programs of 27 countries than to agree on common taxation.
Unity is strength
But as I wrote at the beginning, I’m not an engineer.
By working and reworking this little text, I start to dream again, worse, to believe in it.
Our motto “Unity is strength” pushes me to it, the status of our country within European institutions (“Belgium, the honest broker of Europe”) pushes me to it.
Maybe also the fact that Teaching is too serious a thing that maybe it’s time to share it with people other than just politicians. Because, let us make no mistake, for this Copernican revolution to see the light of day, the role of democratic politicians will be decisive.
I will end by specifying that if someone is looking for me, they can find me because I will obviously be delighted to discuss this dream further. Thank you for reading me, and why not, for believing in it with me.
The texts which appear in the Debates section are external contributions, which do not commit the editorial staff.
