Learing:losing value
By antony2best
@antony2best (583)
India
May 17, 2010 10:41pm CST
It seems to be globally acknowledged that increased learning is a good thing. Thousands of institutions and millions of scholars spend vast amounts of time and money chasing pieces of paper. But what is the value of these qualifications? This essay will discuss whether learning has been devalued.Supporters of learning (usually teachers or educators, or those who have an interest in stopping citizens thinking for themselves) say that increased levels of learning will open doors for scholars. Certificates, diplomas, and degrees are held up as a status symbol, a passport to a private club of money and power.However, the truly powerful are not those who have taken degrees, but citizens who have stood back and looked at what is really important in life. They have seen opportunity and followed dreams. These citizens are found in every part of society. Like many brilliant citizens, Einstein was a weak scholar at math. Like many successful businessmen, Bill Gates never completed institution. Like many inventive and creative citizens, Edison never went to school. The greatest religious teachers do not have letters after their name, but have looked into their hearts for meaning. Similarly, the world’s political leaders do not have master’s degrees or doctorates. These are the citizens who shaped our century, and they are too busy with real life to spend time in the paper chase.scholars in institution are being sold an illusion. They are made to believe that self-understanding and society approval will come with the acquisition of a piece of paper. Instead of thinking for themselves, and finding their own personality and strengths, they are fitted like square pegs into round holes.The role of learning is to prepare masses of citizens to operate at low levels of ability in a very limited and restricted range of activities. Some of these activities are more challenging than perhaps the assembly lines of the past, but still the ultimate purpose is equally uninteresting. More worryingly, despite the increased level of learning, citizens are still not genuinely expected to think for themselves. In fact, the longer years of schooling make the job of brainwashing even easier.There is still a role for study, research, and learning. However, we need to examine our emphasis on learning for the sake of a piece of paper, and to learn the real meaning and revolutionary challenge of knowledge.
1 person likes this
2 responses
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
18 May 10
YEah, i do agree with u!!
What's the point of studying so much when one can be successful without those qualifications and papers in hand!! haha =D
As long as one has got the right mentality, together with some creativity, everything is possible.. THose whom go for paper qualification, are those deemed to work for others, and be an employee.. IF they are planning to be their own boss, then why bother to study so hard right?? haha
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
18 May 10
Hi antony, You make some very good points here. Einstein once remarked that education begins when we have completed school or words to that effect. I agree that chasing after a piece of paper is considered very important today and often the first question one is asked is about what diplomas or degrees she/he has' yet education is much more than that, it's the ability to think for oneself. Many years ago the term "Book learning" was often used where we say education today and may actually have been a better term for what we learn at school. Unless one is able to think for himself/herself I don't believe they are educated. My own father never attended school but was self-educated but his opinions were very much appreciated by all who knew him. It's true that he read everything that he could get his hands on, but he didn't necessarily accept the authors opinion. He felt that he'd been gifted with a mind of his own for a reason. Of course we need a good foundation but we've been paying far too much attention to bits of paper. Blessings.
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