Just would like to express what for me itas a big flaw: The social “elitism” of the Youth Work.
i would say theres a lot of elitism, in the way that the empowerment of youngsters is one of the big aims. Also it should be a “raiser” of citizens for Europe, and for the World.
But… I see a lot youngsters, and youth with good lifes, missusing funds, and doing a lot of things, but actually doing nothing, besides talkng and, and talking, and doing their work in bubbles (meaning that, the outcomes (if there is any) stay within.
I ight be seing things from a too “pink and fluffy” perspective but… where are the oppurtunities, for youngsters with less oppurtunities, youngsters who would really need some non formal education, because the one they get, is not really existing, leaving then many times alone in their thoughts and decisions.
Maybe I have a wrong perspective of youth work. Or I’m Utopic.
Enjoy your lifes.

“Don’t let schooling interfere with your education”

It’s a quote by Mark Twain, and there are a number of different linguistic versions flying around: Wikipedia uses “Never let school interfere with your education”, for example.

Thanks for your cheers, Chris! I agree with your argument that formal education very often uses teaching techniques proven to be inefficient, not seldomly even iniquitous.

Isn’t it ironic that parts of the research on learning is happening in formal education institutions?

On the other hand there also are areas in which formal education is way ahead of the non-formal sphere. What I am aware of most at the moment is the whole area of information technology – what I have seen and read about its usage in the classroom is absolutely exciting and imaginative!