Hello! Rife Magazine ceased publishing new work in July 2022.

We've kept the magazine online as an archive and hope you'll still continue to enjoy all of its contributions from the last 8 years.

The Rife Team

Are Schools Lacking?

Japanese_high_school_classroomSaul questions what schools need to be doing to prepare us for the real world.

It is a driving factor of social mobility, and prepares us for the modern world…

School is something we all go to, where we to learn about the world around us, gaining the important ‘hard skills’ for the modern day and age, such as maths and English.

It is a driving factor of social mobility, and prepares us for the modern world, but do we need a fundamental shift in emphasis and purpose?

During our time at school, we learn a curriculum set out for us by experts in many fields. We learn what they deem important and valuable. There is a deep void however, when it comes to us being interactive with our communities. Shouldn’t we be more engaged with the decisions our local councils make and aspire to put our education into practice? Otherwise, it seems as if people are drifting further and further apart as we leave school and enter our careers.

During our time in school we realise how our main aim is to achieve the best grades possible so that we get the jobs we want: these tend to be the highest-paying.

Education should emphasize that success shouldn’t be defined by your own material wealth…

This then places a lot of emphasis on a more materialistic style of living that immerses into a rather self-centred lifestyle. Whether right or wrong, it leads us into a sense of isolation in adult life as we tend to be preoccupied with our education/jobs rather than communicating with each other or being concerned about improving the cities we live in.

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Apart from socialising with work colleagues, we aren’t likely to meet much people from other professions or jobs, feeding into a class divide. Education should emphasize that success shouldn’t be defined by your own material wealth, but the prosperity and security of everyone.

For society to be effective, we need people to communicate and connect with each other to bring about change as well as to feel valuable. As people leave school entering various professions and jobs, many lose interest in improving their surroundings, feeling as though ‘It’s not my problem’.

For society to be effective, we need people to communicate and connect with each other…

Recently, few organisers decided to convert Brixham Road Open Space into a Berry Maze as it had become a neglected South-Bristol tip. They worked with all members of society and held a competition in a local primary school to choose the best design.

Students were directly involved in a local community project ensuring they cared and felt responsible for their surrounding park inspiring them to be more engaged members of society. Education should increase our engagement with our local communities ensuring we are raised up to be fully integrated with each other so that we can improve the life of everyone.

To find out about community projects and places to volunteer, check out the Rife Guide and V-Inspired