Feelings about Education

[xoxo]

Growing up I had much different expectations from my parents compared to my siblings, for me University was obvious, for them colleges or a good commission/ salary based job was just fine, I always envied that when I was growing up. I graduated high school when i was 16 years old, and immediately went into university out of my state, which in retro perspective was a horrible decision. I took courses just to fill up my schedule, and did the minimal work possible, I only recently (this year) studied for an exam for the first time in my life. Only now am I on the track to taking courses that I enjoy, and realizing what I want to do, the cliche saying of finding what you love to do, or you will put no heart into is soo true!.
I love University though for the fact that Ive grown a substantial amount in the last couple years not only in an academia sense but in a personal and social sense as well. I lived in dorm rooms, and was exposed to different personalities, I made life long friends, I grew up a lot. You take a lot more from university than a degree, you take away an experience.

[eliaino]

Originally Posted by Eric Revelin

They need to decide what college is really for. Is it vocational training? Is it to expand your mind and broaden your horizons? Because trying to do both of those things isn't working out so well. When a degree is required for pretty rudimentary jobs you've got people who are going through the system just so they can find work and extra course load is accomplishing nothing aside from eating at their time. It's bloated, inefficient, and fails to accurately account for the student's needs.

This is an interesting pointd. From what I can see, they use the "finding yourself" line on nostalgic baby boomers, and the students themselves don't care about broadening their horizons--in fact, in many ways I've observed students narrow their horizons to "make money get a job" to the exclusion of all else.

[The David]

Originally Posted by Eric Revelin

They need to decide what college is really for. Is it vocational training? Is it to expand your mind and broaden your horizons? Because trying to do both of those things isn't working out so well. When a degree is required for pretty rudimentary jobs you've got people who are going through the system just so they can find work and extra course load is accomplishing nothing aside from eating at their time. It's bloated, inefficient, and fails to accurately account for the student's needs.

This is an excellent point you brought up. As a person diagnosed with ADHD, I am continually amused to see students complain that they "can't focus", and then take Ritalin or whatnot, so they can fit into the system. Well, the system is about as unfocused as it gets.

"General education" is basically just a spastic run through every topic they deem necessary for an 'educated adult', whatever that is.

With competition continually inflating, they're tacking on more years instead of using the first four more effectively.

Even vocational schools are starting to institute (mandatory?) liberal arts programs because they supposedly broaden a person's mind, and a broad mind is required for carpentry and plumbing, apparently.

Despite my objections, I am not against formal education. I am just wondering
when it will become something more than just a membership card to the rat race.

[Aleksander Krstic]

I think education mainly comes from self-learning: reading books, traveling, new experiences, playing puzzle games, solving sudoku.

If I ever find the courage I'll drop out of the school immediately.

[inverse Paranoid]

Abraham-Hicks.com. All the education you'll ever need.