When a group of people are asked how to solve an intractably difficult problem, a solution that inevitably comes up is knowledge.
“People just need education.”
“People don’t have the knowledge.”
“We need to give people information.”
As someone who has spent my life in, around, and doing education, I can comfortably say this solution is regrettably limited.
Knowledge is an individual intervention, that often ignores interpersonal, community, and institutional factors that can prevent someone from putting their knowledge into action.
A knowledge intervention often assumes a lack or deficit in people, which is to be conveniently filled by another individual who “knows more.” We fall into the trap of judging individuals for “not knowing” or blaming them for “not knowing better.” All the while, feeling like a hero for presenting blatantly obvious information, that can’t be enacted because we did nothing to change the conditions in which people live.
Don’t get me wrong, knowledge is still important. Develop education programs with intentionality, dignity, choice, relevancy, and choice.
Positive outcomes of knowledge are when it is remembered and applied. Knowledge moves beyond an individual intervention when it is shared.