GGGG Ep 2 - Children can only aspire to what they know exists
This episode explores how children's aspirations are fundamentally shaped by their experiences and what they're exposed to. Drawing from Prof Dr Ger Graus's groundbreaking work with the Wythenshawe Education Action Zone and Manchester Airport, they unpack the reality that children from disadvantaged backgrounds often can't dream of careers they've never seen.
The conversation moves from airports to universities, examining how partnership between education and industry can transform lives. Ger shares compelling research from KidZania revealing that stereotypes are set by age 4, and discusses the Children's University model that brought families into higher education spaces for the first time.
Ger challenges listeners to think beyond traditional schooling, emphasizing the critical importance of out-of-school experiences, parental engagement, and creating purposeful learning that helps young people discover why education matters—not just what they must learn.
Key Quotes
"If you have a strong purpose in life, you don't have to be pushed. Your passion will drive you there." - Roy T. Bennett (quoted by Ger Graus)
"Don't you know that people from Wythenshawe don't fly planes?" - 6-7 year old children to Ger Graus
This heartbreaking response reveals how aspirational lids are placed on children's jars from an early age, limiting what they believe is possible for themselves.
"We get hung up on schooling more than education...we're quite happy to alienate the parents. We actually don't want much to do with the parents." - Ger Graus
"We need to draw the parents in, we must make them our co-educators...it takes a village to raise a child. Well, we need to remember that the village consists of different components and parents and grandparents are very important but we must engage them." - Ger Graus
"Give me a confident learner and I'll bring you the grades." - Ger Graus
This powerful statement challenges the system's focus on test results over building confident, independent learners who can thrive in any context.
Key Takeaways
- Children can only aspire to careers and opportunities they know exist—exposure matters
- Stereotypes about career choices are set by age 4, yet we don't discuss futures until age 14
- Partnerships between schools, businesses, and communities create win-win situations
- Out-of-school experiences are not luxuries—they're essential for breaking cycles of disadvantage
- True education requires engaging parents as co-educators, not alienating them
- We need futures awareness in primary schools, not just careers education in secondary schools
Join the conversation using #educationonfire and share your stories of expanding children's horizons.
Chapters:
- 00:10 - Celebrating Milestones in Education
- 00:39 - Introduction to the Series: Gare Grouse Gets Gritty
- 12:50 - Aspirations and Limitations: The Impact of Local Perceptions on Career Choices
- 17:55 - The Importance of Experience in Learning
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