Some people in our society are natural targets for criticism. Politicians must head the list but bosses generally come a close second. Doctors are either revered or castigated; taxi drivers, much the same. Teachers of all sorts seem vulnerable to complaints from those they teach, from the parents of their pupils and – in America – from the President himself. Over my 93 years of life I have noticed complaint levels increasing, many without justification.
Do teachers deserve the grumbles, now becoming official complaints and occasionally violence? The answer is broadly No. They have been swept up in a world that was changing its values from civilisation to acquisition. The basis of their teaching when they were in college was drumming information into the often reluctant heads of pupils. The children’s parents became richer and the kids themselves more spoiled. Then AI stepped in as…
It will make demands on teaching that even the most farsighted have not yet conceived. A world of indistinguishably real and fake knowledge, of simulated feelings, of conniveability rather than flexibility and mostly devoid of philosophical reflection, describes the AI future. Control of it is recognised as of almost infinite value – as measured by the billions of dollars poured into creating and powering it. Control of AI will be control of humanity. It’s as simple as that. Dangerous promises of cooperation between AI and the humanity we know and love have as much credibility as a political marriage of the US and Russian Presidents.
The next generation’s teachers must impart Appreciation, Reflection, Authenticity. Can they do that? It depends on parents and the rest of society. What we teach our future citizens will determine the survival or demise of humanity as we know it.
Unless Education teaches the social value of morality as a compulsory subject and unless society demands decent behaviour as a prerequisite to the right to have any say in it, we will revert to personal acquisition as the only basis for judging ourselves. Humankind’s nobility of purpose will fizzle out and the joys of living will become a distant memory of record.
If all this sounds like bad news, it is. What can we do about it?
First, be clear about what we want. We have become a Creator with mixed Causes. Second, set a strategy for achieving it and get broad consensus to do so. Third, rigorously assess those who get the jobs of making it happen.
And fourth – persevere. What we want is achievable.
But we do have to want it.
Good morning
John Bittleston
There are likely to be many views about this controversial Daily Paradox.
We’d love to hear them at [email protected].
02 September 2025
