No one can deny that the Caribbean and other societies have come a long way from varying dimensions: culturally, economically, educationally, legally, politically and socially. Yet, from various experiences, it would appear that there is still a fair amount of ground to be covered, particularly in relation to the education of our people.
To set the stage for this week’s contribution, here is how one illustrious economist characterises living conditions globally prior to 1800: “Consumption for the great majority of human beings consisted predominantly of food, and food was largely limited to staples – rice, wheat, and other grains. Housing entailed barnlike living conditions with no privacy, and climate control consisted only of necessary heat in winter. Clothing was utilitarian and rarely involved more than single outfits with the seasonal addition of over clothes.
“Medical care was almost nonexistent. Travel was rare, largely local, difficult, and uncomfortable. Recreation was self-generated and primitive.
Only a small aristocratic minority enjoyed what we would consider today an appropriate human standard of living – varieties of fresh food, including meat; private, well-warmed accommodations; multiple sets of clothing for varied occasions; rudimentary personal and medical care; and opportunities for travel and sophisticated entertainment.”
The preceding description of life and living back in those days, coming from none other than Joseph E. Stiglitz in his book, Creating A Learning Society: A New Approach To Growth, Development, And Social Progress. It unmistakably represents not only the journey human beings have undertaken over many centuries but is also testimony that our societies have indeed come a long way.
Come to think about it, how did our societies make this gigantic transformation? Was it a matter of luck or did we work extremely hard to reconfigure our socioeconomic landscapes to redound to the benefit of people and societies?
Without a doubt, the progress of which we can proudly speak today could not have come without the hard work, dedication and commitment of millions of people who populated our world long before we began our journeys here on planet earth and have set the stage for us to take off.
In cricketing analogy, current generations have used the wickets prepared by our forefathers and with many innovations have been able to create real changes in living conditions that many now enjoy and, should I add, take for granted!
But ironically, a simple press of a TV remote button can result in a mind-blowing experience when it comes to the apparent lack of knowledge that some among us possess about things that should matter to all and sundry. Rudimentary information about founding fathers and basic historical facts are often missing from people’s knowledge of their own societies.
Clearly, every country in the Caribbean and elsewhere needs to craft an education agenda that is both backward and forward looking. We must know and learn to appreciate history.
At the same time, we must become more creative in our thinking to provide the momentum needed to foster higher and sustained levels of socioeconomic progress in our societies.
Without such an education revolution, our societies will “go nowhere fast” and that would be a rather obnoxious development, especially for future generations.
Email: bfrancis@uwi.edu.bb
