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Plan9 · 02-03-2008, 01:34 PM

Wow.

This thread makes me think too much. Makes me ponder my future, too. What is the purpose of me spending all this money on a "piece of paper?"

Whatever genius philosopher said that “Education is not a preparation for life, it is life itself...” was right.

When seeing that I immediately thought of my former mentor, a salty old soldier and school teacher who made me memorize and tout his life mantra, “You are what you do.” I really believe that. He also taught me that the most effective way to start tackling any intellectual challenge is to first build a firm base of facts. Today, whenever I’m presented with an academic situation that encourages debate, I find myself quickly assembling the literal definitions of the words that comprise the matter to be argued. While quite often the literal definitions aren’t necessarily the most desired tool for the job, they usually feature useful descriptors that the build / push / fuel the discussion.

Life, as it applies to an individual’s time on Earth, is defined as “a period of animate existence” and words like adaptation, liveliness, elasticity, and growth are conjured up. Education is commonly defined as “the act of acquiring knowledge or skills” and words like school, study, instruction, and training are associated with it.

I have always felt that life experience is education, and vice versa, that education is life experience, and that neither stops regardless of age or location. I learn something new every day regardless of whether or not I’m sitting behind a textbook in a classroom. While few would consider dissecting a fetal pig in entry-level biology or writing an essay on the meaning of education / life to be a particularly valuable life experience, the understanding of the mechanical mortality of life on Earth and the ability to formulate a reasonable philosophical argument based on educated personal opinion is something that cannot be measured and prove to be invaluable life skills.

The inspirational quote above that touts the value of education as a lifelong process may be an overbroad generalization, but it is not without its merits. There is validity in it so much that it demonstrates that living is learning and not necessarily the brand that is furnished by a textbook or a chalkboard. It says that life is a grand classroom. Can we quantify that on a piece of parchment?

It seems man isn’t happy without rank structure, and the education system is not immune. We crave titles and tangible symbols of success and ability. While society has created these credential concepts such as diplomas and certificates, there are no real merit badges in life. Life experience cannot be “buttonized” (not a word?) or made into a colorful cloth patch for wear on a jacket sleeve.

I think there is very little difference between the degree hanging on the wall of an “A” student who dedicated four years of his life to academic greatness and the degree hanging on the wall of a “C” student who majored in binge drinking and doing the absolute bare minimum required to slink by academically. Society seems to say, “in order to be successful in life, you must follow these graduated steps,” and in doing so has created a cookie cutter concept out of contemporary education. I worry that modern employment focuses purely on certification over expertise because certification is safe, tangible, and can be managed as such. It seems young adults spend their lives chasing titles and documents so that they can be accepted in the employment venue of their choice only having to learn an occupation from the ground up regardless of said degree.

... what the fuck am I trying to say? Uh...

I whole-heartedly appreciate the significance of a quality college education, but only in that it shows the required adequate dedication to a specially structured system for an extended period of time and that it expresses an individual’s applied potential.

I feel that human beings are extremely concept-oriented creatures and perhaps education, the willful and intentional assimilation of knowledge (sometimes unintentional?) and skills through attentive effort can best be defined, in this case, as both the journey and the destination that compromise the adventure of life, and through integration and application... perhaps the joy of being alive?

Does a degree define your occupation as a job, a career, a passion, a hobby?

I don't think so.

/pontification

Blargh. I'm not a genius... and I don't have a degree yet. I SUCK UH-GAIN!

02-03-2008, 01:34 PM	#14 (permalink)
Plan9 I Confess a Shiver	Wow. This thread makes me think too much. Makes me ponder my future, too. What is the purpose of me spending all this money on a "piece of paper?" Whatever genius philosopher said that “Education is not a preparation for life, it is life itself...” was right. When seeing that I immediately thought of my former mentor, a salty old soldier and school teacher who made me memorize and tout his life mantra, “You are what you do.” I really believe that. He also taught me that the most effective way to start tackling any intellectual challenge is to first build a firm base of facts. Today, whenever I’m presented with an academic situation that encourages debate, I find myself quickly assembling the literal definitions of the words that comprise the matter to be argued. While quite often the literal definitions aren’t necessarily the most desired tool for the job, they usually feature useful descriptors that the build / push / fuel the discussion. Life, as it applies to an individual’s time on Earth, is defined as “a period of animate existence” and words like adaptation, liveliness, elasticity, and growth are conjured up. Education is commonly defined as “the act of acquiring knowledge or skills” and words like school, study, instruction, and training are associated with it. I have always felt that life experience is education, and vice versa, that education is life experience, and that neither stops regardless of age or location. I learn something new every day regardless of whether or not I’m sitting behind a textbook in a classroom. While few would consider dissecting a fetal pig in entry-level biology or writing an essay on the meaning of education / life to be a particularly valuable life experience, the understanding of the mechanical mortality of life on Earth and the ability to formulate a reasonable philosophical argument based on educated personal opinion is something that cannot be measured and prove to be invaluable life skills. The inspirational quote above that touts the value of education as a lifelong process may be an overbroad generalization, but it is not without its merits. There is validity in it so much that it demonstrates that living is learning and not necessarily the brand that is furnished by a textbook or a chalkboard. It says that life is a grand classroom. Can we quantify that on a piece of parchment? It seems man isn’t happy without rank structure, and the education system is not immune. We crave titles and tangible symbols of success and ability. While society has created these credential concepts such as diplomas and certificates, there are no real merit badges in life. Life experience cannot be “buttonized” (not a word?) or made into a colorful cloth patch for wear on a jacket sleeve. I think there is very little difference between the degree hanging on the wall of an “A” student who dedicated four years of his life to academic greatness and the degree hanging on the wall of a “C” student who majored in binge drinking and doing the absolute bare minimum required to slink by academically. Society seems to say, “in order to be successful in life, you must follow these graduated steps,” and in doing so has created a cookie cutter concept out of contemporary education. I worry that modern employment focuses purely on certification over expertise because certification is safe, tangible, and can be managed as such. It seems young adults spend their lives chasing titles and documents so that they can be accepted in the employment venue of their choice only having to learn an occupation from the ground up regardless of said degree. ... what the fuck am I trying to say? Uh... I whole-heartedly appreciate the significance of a quality college education, but only in that it shows the required adequate dedication to a specially structured system for an extended period of time and that it expresses an individual’s applied potential. I feel that human beings are extremely concept-oriented creatures and perhaps education, the willful and intentional assimilation of knowledge (sometimes unintentional?) and skills through attentive effort can best be defined, in this case, as both the journey and the destination that compromise the adventure of life, and through integration and application... perhaps the joy of being alive? Does a degree define your occupation as a job, a career, a passion, a hobby? I don't think so. /pontification Blargh. I'm not a genius... and I don't have a degree yet. I SUCK UH-GAIN! __________________ *Whatever you can carry.* "You should not drink... and bake." Last edited by Plan9; 02-03-2008 at 02:01 PM..