At the moment education isn’t built for growing competence nor confidence.

It’s built for standardisation.

Standard scores, standard tests, standard citizens.

This isn’t a flaw, it’s a feature. The way the system is built, like how the petrol system optimises for profit by using extraction.

The education system optimises for stability by using standardisation.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

We’re failing to give people meaningful education because we’re failing them when they make mistakes.

The incentive is backward.

If we encourage people to take calculated risks, to weigh the trade offs and make mistakes that are within tolerable levels, rather than training them to avoid all mistakes at all costs, we will produce much more resilient adults.

Confidence comes from evidence, what happens to a child who never gains evidence that they can withstand getting things wrong?

What happens to that child when they become an adult?

What happens to the world when that adult becomes a worker?