When Pigs Fly

A parable on traditional education.

From a distance, the winged porcelain pig caught my eye. My wife had stopped at a curio shop in the hectic Chatuchak weekend market in suburban Bangkok, Thailand. I chuckled, “Ha! This image reminds me of the change process in education.”

Will pigs fly before we transform schools with students at the center of learning?

As my wife entered negotiations with the shop owner for a raft of holiday gift ornaments, their voices faded. I kept staring at the winged pig . . .

Traditional Education slumped to the ground; dejected and exhausted. Failed again to scale the wall. The blaring Loudspeaker fixed to the summit recounted a statistical analysis of their latest attempt. Soon after, The System appeared and reminded them for the umpteenth time that success means getting to the top. Traditional Education needs to, “Work harder!”.

“But all they give us are the same tools and instructions we’ve always had.”

“Actually, my school has fewer tools than before. But, let’s get going or The System will be back again.”

Before Traditional Education could get started, they heard energetic voices coming from the other side. They looked down the wall and spotted an opening.

“Hey, I never knew that was there!”

Peering through the opening, they saw children engaged, excited and immersed in educational experiences. It kind of looks like school, but is it?

“What’s going on?”, Traditional Education asked.

In unison, they all shouted back, “We’re learning!”

Traditional Education noticed they are not using the same tools and instructions. They seem to be leading their own experience. The System would never go for that.

“What are you waiting for? Come join us!”

“Sorry, no can do. The System won’t let us. We’ve been told to climb the wall.”

“Too bad, There’s room for everyone here.”

“Oh, when you go back, will you please turn off The Loudspeaker? It’s a huge distraction to our learning.”

“Like that’s going to happen”, mumbled Traditional Education as they headed away.

After a few more steps, “Wait a minute. I know this sounds crazy but what if we rigged a rope to a flying pig and…”, Traditional Education shared a quick laugh. This was drowned out by The Loudspeaker announcing their next attempt to climb the wall . . .

The “hole in the wall” is there. Just walk through it. The other side is waiting for you, your learners, your school, your community. Schools need to be different, not better.