Is Individualized Education Really Effective
By admin on 2014-12-22

Is education truly effective when it is specifically designed to meet the needs and interests of each student? Yes, I agree. When it is made to serve each and every individual's needs can education inspire one's talents and fully motivate him or her to success, despite difficulties that may arise along the way.

But, we have to be careful at the same time not to have the individualization of education over-emphasized, as it may be harmful to the overall development of a person in the long run.

Truly, everyone is different and has their own talents. Making education satisfy each individual's needs and interests is necessary and effective.

Lang Lang, renowned Chinese young pianist.

Let's take Lang Lang, the popular young Chinese pianist, as an example. Whenever people watched him playing marvelously at concerts at both home and abroad, many would have wondered how he could have achieved that much. As a matter of fact, he was a beneficiary of individualized education.

When he was young, Lang Lang's father found his talent in playing piano and did hit utmost to provide Lang Lang with the best possible education in piano. This included the family's moving to Beijing and inviting the best piano teacher to coach Lang Lang.

It's neither hard to imagine that if Lang Lang hadn't received a specialized education in piano, and had simply gone to school and studied the same subjects as everyone else, it would have been impossible for him to become so successful as he is today.

But, advocating that education will be truly effective only when it is specialized doesn't mean that the crucial role of general education can be neglected.

General education often provides the basic knowledge and abilities that have proved to be essential and fundamental for a child to grow into an outstanding adult. Without the necessary basis, people just won't be able to travel far or fly higher in the long term. We cannot imagine anyone without a good master of mathematics becoming a scientist or making big achievements in their related fields.

Without general education, such as moral standards or basic ethics of dos and don'ts, people just won't be able to avoid making mistakes when they are surrounded by honor and fame.

Likewise, due to a lack of enough general education on moral standards, public behavior and law, the eight-gold medalist Michael Phelps was unfortunately caught up in a marijuana smoking scandal last year. Therefore, educators cannot ignore the importance of general education that is necessary and vital to one's life long development.

It's true that specific education can be effective when it is designed to meet the needs and interests of students. But, it will be wiser enough to keep a sound balance between specific education and general education.