November 05, 2004
What is Education?
Nice editorial in an alternative web based publication.
...all education amounts to is knowing how to find out what you need to know
Going to school does not "give you" an education. You must do that for yourself. Education is not a spectator sport. It is self directed, as learning can only be done by the student.
An education person is one who not only knows where to find the information one needs to know, but also is able to use that information productively. If there are no jobs, an educated person can make a living by discovering a need in his/her community and filling that need.
PermalinkComments
I can't say I agree with this part much:
"an educated person can make a living by discovering a need in his/her community and filling that need"
There have been studies showing quite the opposite, that the more education someone has the less likely they are to start and be successful in a business. Higher ed. tends to make people more specialised and less inclined to do the sorts of things necessary to start a business.
It also depends on the society within which one lives. Almost everyone I met in Ukraine was well educated, but there was still very little work there. Folks there who I asked entirely agreed with the idea that there's an inverse relationship between education and economic success, or at least it often seems that way.
I like the other parts of the quote though.
Posted by: Paul Baxter at November 6, 2004 11:21 AMI think the author's definition of "educated" has nothing to do with college degrees though.
Posted by: Chris at November 6, 2004 12:55 PMIf the comment entry box is gone it's because comments are closed for this entry. Please feel free to use the "contact" link above to get in touch.