Why are educators obsessed with technique and research?

Question

I'm on a bunch of education/teacher mailing lists. All the members do is talk about research findings on one method of teaching or another. Why have teachers lost the basic core of understanding what education is all about--mainly what is worth learning, and the differnce between education and training. The way the educators and educational researchers refer to students sounds more like they are training seals than educating human beings. Are people in education clueless or is it just that old adage, those who can do, those who can't teach?

Answer 1

Education sold out to big business.... remember that after high school education becomes a very competitive business for many facets of the economy from novelty items, sports, text books, financial institutions, etc....

However instead of Educating people to be good thinkers and problem solvers.... we have been pushed into the competitive idea of producing a competent work force....ready to hit the grind stone and do what they are told the way they are told so they can have the good life

And it is really the other way around that I prefer....
Those who can, Teach
Those who can't, Do

Answer 2

Once a person gets into college, they will be required to know where to go to do their research. Like Referencing your sources. If people are exposed to this at an early age, they will be able to pick it up easily when they go to college. The less time professors have to spend reviewing these core concepts, the more the profs. can teach. Undoubtedly, students will come upon at least 4 or 5 classes throughout their college career that requires them to write a research paper.

Answer 3

And don't forget that the federal governement is pushing the use of data-driven and research-based curriculum which has been 'proven' to be effective. Teachers are expected to teach the skills on the federally mandated state exams to determine AYP, so teachers much teach everything much more quickly which often comes at the expense of project-based learning.