The Land of Equestria, Part 1 · 9:00am Feb 27th, 2015
The Land of Equestria, Part 1.
Last week, I did a little rant blog on Equestria's government, and after a whole two or three minutes of thought (The fun of a short attention span!), I decided it might be a good idea to make a short blog series on the topic.
In this series, we'll cover Equestrian societal facets ranging from their economy, to their citizens, their laws, and yes, again the government. So, I thought I'd start it off with an easy one: their education system.
Sounds boring? Maybe on Earth, but the Equestrian education system works quite a bit differently from ours. Viewers may note that the only school ever seen in the show is an elementary school. No middle or high school (We're leaving Equestria Girls out of this; besides, that's a different world, and therefore a different education system). So, how do the Equestrian's get their higher education? They use the tried-and-true apprenticeship method. See, their society has the advantage of each young one gaining a mark bearing their special talent from a young age, therefore, the need for carving out your interests in Middle/High school is unnecessary. Thanks to this, after gaining the most basic education, they can head right into training for the career field they bear the talent for.
Take into consideration some of the Mane 6. Twilight is the most obvious, as she is the student of Celestia, which is clearly explained. Her mark indicated her talent, (as did her display for the judges at entry to a more directed elementary school), thus placing Twilight under her apprenticeship. Applejack, meanwhile grew up on the farm, and was mentored by her entire family, in a way being their apprentice, or simply "carrying on the family business" as it were. And Pinkie...Under the apprenticeship of the Cake family for baking sweets. She's a bit of an oddity however, for her special talent is parties, yet she's learning to be a baker? Well, the catering is an integral part of most parties, be they big and fancy or small and short, most all have food. Perhaps she was allowed a choice of different professions to study, given the wide range of things a "Party Pony" may need to learn (anything from catering to transportation, organization and in some cases pyrotechnics and special effects). Either way, it's all training.
And finally...do ponies really have a say in their education? It's been mentioned that there is a school of Magic in Canterlot, and a (possibly mandatory) flight school in Cloudsdale, so it can be inferred that there is specialized education. But the mark really determines what path an individual will take, although if one displays a special talent, they'll typically enjoy it with no qualms. But, there's nothing saying that a Citizen is banned from studying outside their main field, so although it may be unorthodox in a society so clearly defined as Equestria's, it cannot be ruled out.
SO! The Long story Short!
-New Mini Blog Series on Equestria!
-Equestria's Education system is pretty cool.
-Public education in Equestria ends after Elementary school, and the students typically are taken in by a mentor (or mentors).
-They are still free to study other topics.
So, as Always, keep on with what you do!
I'm Ironsmith, Invent on!
I think your analysis is spot on except for one factor affecting school age. The celebration for a filly getting her cutie mark is a Cutecinera, which is based on the Quincinera - a Hispanic celebration of a girl's 15th birthday, so ponies get their cutie mark in the equivalent of their early teens. This school lasts until a foal is at least 15 or 16, so it's not just grade school, but at least jr. high. (Grade 9 or 10)
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Ah! I seem to have missed the Cutecinera, very good catch!
Makes a lot of sense, actually. Except Pinkie wouldn't be the apprentice of the Cakes so much as their employee. It's her paid job. She just lives in the bakery that is also their house. Because... Equestria.
I've heard a talk by a millionaire that the whole mentor system is way more useful than the current education systems here in the UK/ USA.
Equestria's got the right idea.
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I agree that it is an efficient system, and although it does take away some choice from the student, as long as it was based on student interest to begin with, it'd be very successful.