‘Education’ is a word that’s vacantly and freely thrown around by just about everyone who has an opinion. It’s a phenomenon, which a large part of the population misses out on, whereas the remaining part that has been granted this so-called luxury, is toiling, complaining, cursing and attacking the concept.
Of course, getting education is the right thing to do. It’s honourable. It’s required. It’s needed. It’s essential. It’s beneficial. I’m not saying it’s not important. I’m just questioning how important is it in the long run, especially when you’ve got subjects that are either too vast and overburdening, or too inadequate and insignificant.
Today’s education system doesn’t exactly um… what’s the right word? EDUCATE. It’s turns us into capital goods that can be put to work straight away. It makes us memorize till the inception of the first thought of suicide. It attaches monumental importance to written tests and exams, which are birth places of anxiety and hatred. It never inspires us. It merely diminishes are self-confidence and strength. It seems to be run by ignorant idiots who only seem to have a semblance of a soul.
The teachers seem to have become authoritarians for the sole reason of paying their rent. I haven’t found a single teacher who truly loves his or her subject and dares to break the monotony of studying. I guess someone like that only exists in fiction, in the form of Professor John Keating.
The state of education is crap. It’s dwelling in two extremes right now. So when I say it’s too much I mean people are bogged down by assignment after assignment, awake till two in the morning trying to memorize the Iliad in its entirety.
And when I say it’s too less, I refer to a system where the teachers drone on about the most insignificant information from dry, dull, drab and grammatically incorrect textbooks despite not believing in a single word of what they’re teaching and the students who don’t give a damn because they’re too busy eating branded clothes, make-up and hair gel, drinking alcohol and believing in the profound philosophy of ‘Like’.
I don’t think there really exists a system which just the right equilibrium between the two. Hell, I’m opposed to systems, cliques and clans, in general.
After two years of college, I found myself reminiscing and believe me, there’s not much worth reminiscing about. The few things I learnt in college go a little something like this,
1. As long as you’re dumb and loud you’ll be considered ‘cool’. Or ‘uncool’ , if you’re being judged by an intelligent person with basic reasoning skills whose natural hair colour and personal principles remain intact.
2. The things you learn in college are not as important as the things you don’t learn in college. The important life lessons take place outside of college. Not anywhere inside it.
Honestly, we all have our own definitions of a word like ‘education’. But Pink Floyd really says it the best.
And a little word to the HSC Board: You shall pay for depriving me of about 100 pages of one of Haruki Murakami’s beautiful books. You shall pay dearly.
And no, I don’t want to learn about our godforsaken government. I want to learn the art of day seizing!!
Most of us take very long to realise what you are comprehending at a tender and impressionable age.You are probably familiar with Oscar Wilde's statement that " education is an admirable thing but it is worthwhile to remember that nothing worth learning can ever be taught." Which brings me to another sublime thought by Kahlil Gibran, a great teacher is one who leads you to the threshold of your own mind. I am sorry that you have not yet come across great teachers. I was fortunate to have some stellar gurus at Elphinstone so keep the faith and learn from the most unlikely people and situations and yes, Carpe Diem!
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteYou hit the nail on the head. Never let college interfere with your education.
Loved your concise direct expressive style of writing.more power to your pen. Rama
I hear ya—
ReplyDeleteI wish there is a better balance in the educational system—right from the start.
Education is not just about stuff like addition, subtraction and vocabulary. It is also learning and discovering who we are, and have the potential to become. As important as it is for us to learn about the scientific formation of clouds, the chemical composition of water and air, theory of relativity-- we should also learn awareness, simple basic breathing, connecting with the intangibles, etc etc.
With all due respect, even those excruciating memorizations and trigonometry problems do teach us something more than the content of the matter, and, one never knows when in life, those hidden subliminal instructions surface---like my dissection skills help me, as I artfully tackle the ‘baingan’ for making ‘bharta’—and the biochemical cycles and food chains that I painfully memorized in college helps me connect the dots—when I am helping folks with their problems, so to speak. Sometimes (only sometimes!!) it is not just about the magnanimous volumes of useless information but about the underlying skills you secretly develop because of that—Granted, not the best way to get there- mostly, and I wish there was a better option and approach. What I am trying to say is that the young mind is like fertile soil, education sows the seed, and, if we feed it with a good attitude, imagination and open-ness we will definitely blossom fruitfully—the key is to add your own special ingredient—YOU! Collateral learning is the doorway to a successful education. Consider yourself lucky if you encounter a teacher in this journey who can ‘light the fire’ so to speak, within you—that’s all one really needs.
As hard as it is to comprehend, in some weird way your ‘govt policies’ banter, has helped you discover your love for Pink Floyd and those boring tales and grammar lessons have formulated your passion for beautiful books.
As vital as it is for education to help U make a living, it is the learning you have taken from it that teaches you how to live. I wish they would incorporate necessary ‘life-living lessons’ in economics and philosophy,--like how to make choices, handle peer pressure, co-operation, money management, develop good self esteem, etc—some mandatory classes for all students—‘cause in the end—life is all about learning- every moment, every day—as long as U live. Someone wisely said-‘turn those mirrors into windows.’ --- You will be amazed at the view!!
I hope this has not sounded like a boring discourse from one of those thick text books. I am sure that like-minded folks like you will tackle, ‘re-forming’ your own individual educational curriculum— and handle the balancing act with a passion. Fulgham has very eloquently elaborated some of this in his book about learning everything one needs to know in kindergarten-----but for now— the way I see it--the only way out is through it. So buckle up that seat belt and ---just like Thomas, the Tank Engine--- “I think I can, I know I can’---- chug away!!!
Happy Learning and Keep writing!