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Education is the organized defence of adults against youth.

Mark Twain

A proverb, which makes people think about education. There are plenty of educational books around - and there are just as many opinions about the right education. Concluding I do believe THE right education just does not exist. Only different ways to grow and develop.

What many might not consider are the reasons of education. Why do I need to bring up someone else? Where do I want to go with their education? Do I believe that he has to turn out just like me? If so, do I not rob the person of their right to development to their own accordance? To unfold, explore, find and go walk his way?

A question begs to be asked: How am I educated? Did I like this? What would I make better or do I follow the footsteps of my parents and apply their parenting style? More often than not this will be the case. Just because we did not learn anything else. More to the point, because we were not allowed to learn anything else.

Already Nietzsche knew: “Inevitably, parents create children very much like themselves – and then call this education”.

The above quote from Mark Twain is certainly provocative, but probably more often than not true. Particularly then, when adults “retreat” to a position of reasoning, which sounds something like: because of "educational measures", or "educational reasons". This is a poor attempt to “get on top of the child or young person”.

It is also an attempt to defend their opinions about education. Every healthy effort of the young person to “find his own way”, “try his own strengths”, to “revolt against the old/his parents”, are nipped in the bud. Sometimes for no other reason than the fear of the adult to lose his “position of power “or to be seen as a “good educator”.

If such a situation arises, it could be helpful to think back to the time when we were young – and then loosen up a bit.

Education may also mean: to watch and rejoice. Permanent intervention, regulations and disapproving of the child creates only fear and prevents the development of independence. The ideal environment for the young person would be an advisory position and only then to intervene, if the situation has the potential to harm the child or someone in the community. Our own experiences are the best experiences. That’s a more natural way of learning which benefits the young person better.