Colin Fredericks

Bio

Colin Fredericks is a Ph.D. student in physics at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he conducts educational research. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees in physics from Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute. Colin attended high school at Northfield Mt. Hermon School, a private boarding school in western Massachusetts, which made a major positive impact on his life. His hobbies include American style karate, cooking, and writing games. Colin currently lives in Sunderland, Masachusetts, though he still considers himself a Vermont native.

Educational philosophy

What is the purpose of education?

Education makes peoples' lives better. When we're faced with problems, it gives us the knowledge of previous solutions, the training to apply them, the intelligence to create new solutions, and the wisdom to know what problems we should actually spend our time on. It lets us understand other people and communicate things we want them to understand. It makes better leaders and more competent followers. In short, education makes peoples' lives worth living, and the more people who have it, the better off we'll all be.

What is the role of the student in education?

To learn to think like an expert. To not just study, but practice (it's a karate thing - studying karate in a book or watching it on TV is pretty pointless; you need to practice it for yourself). To trust that their teachers are giving them something worthwhile, even if they don't see an immediate application. To find and understand their limits. To find things they're interested in, scholastic and otherwise (people who don't have interests outside school get very boring!). To help each other.

What is the role of the teacher in education?

To get students genuinely interested in their topics. To help students with a hand up or a push. To keep learning themselves, so that they understand new developements and methods in their field and in education. To give their students something worthwhile. To make sure that students don't burn themselves out. To believe in their students, to show them how to believe in themselves, and to ensure that they have a reason to believe.

What is the role of the teacher in the community?

Teachers are... Authority figures. Both instructor and mentor. Role models whether they like it or not. A link between the students and life after high school. In many ways, they're surrogate parents.

What is the purpose of the school?

To create an atmosphere that encourages all that good stuff above. To provide a place that lets students study, work, play, talk, and live with other people - not people who share their goals or dreams, because that's boring, but people who are just as dedicated to a different set of ideals. To both isolate students from the world (so they can concentrate) and expose them to new parts of it (so they can appreciate it).

Why are you involved in JZEF?

Because there are too many stupid people in the world. Because I believe that intelligence can be taught. Because I think that there are better ways to teach. Because I honestly believe that this is one of the best things I can do with my life.