Mitochondria Is the Powerhouse of the Cell.
Mitochondria Is the Powerhouse of the Cell.
Our Education System Needs to Be Questioned.
“Mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.” My generation’s mocking of this educational statement, which we all know, serves as a wake-up call. This phrase, often recited but seldom understood, highlights a deep issue in our education system. What are we learning in standardized education, and what else is being taught but not valued?
Like many others, I learned the phrase in my middle school science class. It was quick and easy to memorize. I remember looking at a few diagrams and being able to label the mitochondria. Besides that, I learned nothing. What’s so important about this topic?
The education system prioritizes conformity over curiosity. It also emphasizes memorization over deep critical thinking. This encourages us to ask, what is the true purpose of education?
For me, this question was more than pondering; it was a personal journey of my own pursuit of education. I moved to a public school at age eight after spending six years in Montessori, soon encountering the system's many flaws.
Teachers restrict talking time.
Students must stay still at their desks.
Teachers provide limited individual support and feedback.
Grades and behavior charts measure success.
What is learned is easily forgotten.
But the worst flaw of all was my own: I went along with it. I never questioned the system, knowing it would lower my grade. In order to succeed, I had to conform. My day-to-day was to carry around binders filled with papers that could soon be crumpled once I had passed the test.
Warren Berger, author of ‘A More Beautiful Question,’ argues that “Many educators and learning experts contend that our current system of education does not encourage, teach, or in some cases even tolerate questioning.”
The system is not impossible to succeed at, I was a straight-A student. Although I felt bored. My curiosity was silenced, and questions that were anything more than clarification weren't answered.
Homework was even more frustrating. There was one right answer and one right answer only. I spent hours at the dining room table gripping my pencil and feeling helpless. Even when I got all the questions right, I still didn’t feel like I had learned much. However, it took exiting the system to truly recognize the harsh reality of the situation.
Covid-19 was a wake-up call for many. Parents who got to see the chaos of the worksheet and lecture format with little to no support became concerned. Was this what they did all day? My parents and many others understood the lack of connection students had in class.
Amidst the chaos of the pandemic, I got the opportunity to return to Montessori through an online school. The acceleration in my confidence was noticeable within the first few weeks of being enrolled. This was all because I was able to question things I had never questioned before.
STEM to most people doesn’t require asking “why?” I have been taught for years how to calculate equations and follow procedures. But, I never learned how to question them and see their real purpose during my time in public education. When I joined my new school, I felt like I was doing real work, because I was.
The same programs we use to analyze statistics are the ones that are used by statisticians. It was challenging work- but understanding the ‘why’ behind all of these calculations was precisely what made it provoking! I was able to think and express my thoughts freely and my curiosity grew tremendously. I felt like asking questions and getting clarity on what was meant by the author, scientist, teacher, or my fellow peers. My example and many others illustrate the true importance of our learning environments.
Richard Altmann discovered Mitochondria by observing and asking questions. But all I remember is memorizing the phrase. Which has remained useless to this day due to my lack of understanding.
An article published by TIME magazine “Why Do Kids Ask Fewer Questions When They Start School” shares the lack of questions in traditional education, “Research shows that schoolchildren show far less curiosity than they did just a few months earlier, while at home. For instance, the rate of question asking drops precipitously when children are in school—from one question every two minutes, to less than one question every two hours.” That puts into perspective how little students are allowed to talk in a traditional schooling environment.
What is education for?
This is a common debate that has many different answers. However, we can agree that education serves as a basis for our future. It’s where we learn fundamental academic subjects that prepare us for life beyond the classroom.
Our world is constantly adapting and knowing how to read, write, and do basic calculations is fundamental for our success, serving a purpose in preparing us for the real world, but how we implement these subjects matters for our success.
The majority of students face the sad reality of intellectual dishonesty. They learn for the test, not for their own wisdom. This leads them to provide answers they believe the educator wants to hear rather than expressing their true understanding.
What are we really learning? When the focus shifts from genuine understanding to merely achieving high grades, the very essence of education is lost. Instead of fostering these skills with curiosity and critical thinking, students become adept at memorizing facts and regurgitating information without truly grasping the underlying concepts.
This not only stunts their ability to apply what they have learned to the real world but also hinders their ability to be leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers.
Nearly 70% of Americans have a job, and what makes them successful, based on a 2024 analysis by LinkedIn, is communication and problem-solving.
Being able to communicate includes:
Talking to clients and coworkers
Presenting ideas clearly
Active listening
Writing effectively
Being able to problem-solve includes:
Using logic
Analyzing situations
Developing solutions
Critical thinking
For those who choose to be an entrepreneur, start-up founder, small business owner, or stay-at-home parent, these skills remain crucial.
Effective communication is vital for:
Negotiating
building and maintaining relationships
clearly conveying ideas
Problem-solving abilities are essential for:
Making decisions
overcoming daily challenges
Calculating risks
In every aspect of life, whether personal or professional, these skills lay the groundwork for success. That is why questioning is so important. According to Harvard’s Tony Wagner: "Somehow, we’ve defined the goal of schooling as enabling you to have more ‘right answers’ than the person next to you, and we penalize incorrect answers. And we do this at a pace—especially now, in this highly-focused test prep universe—where we don’t have time for extraneous questions.” This has led to a creativity crisis.
That’s the reason I love my school
I get to ask extraneous questions and communicate them with my peers daily. In fact, that is what my school is all about.
That is the great thing about education right now; it’s starting to be questioned. This has led to a rise in new opportunities, such as micro-schools, homeschooling, Montessori, and many other unconventional education routes that have become more prevalent and accessible.
An example of this is the program I attend, The Socratic Experience (TSE). Every day we pursue inquiry, and our classes consist of purpose-driven work and Socratic dialogues. This approach to education encourages me and my peers to appreciate what we are learning because we know the “why” behind what we are studying.
We are urged to question and understand every one of the things we learn and their true importance to us and the world. We then use this to create innovative futures for ourselves and others. Many students at TSE have businesses, podcasts, blogs, internships, and start-ups that are changing our world already. The love for learning and the unique capabilities we each hold present a compelling case for the benefits of unconventional education.
Conclusion
Statements like “Mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell” have a purpose and might have a purposeful role in our education. However, schooling systems should encourage asking why and students should understand the reasons they are learning. By fostering environments that invite critical analysis and conversation, we can move beyond memorization into meaningful comprehension.
This approach not only enhances students’ engagement and curiosity but also equips them with the skills needed to succeed. Education should aim to cultivate lifelong learners, capable of progressing the world through exploration of the intricacies it has to present.
Students no longer fear the teacher in a system where they are free to question and engage in meaningful discussions. This ability to think critically and communicate effectively prepares future generations to solve the complex challenges they will inevitably face and will thus enhance the world for all.
