How Important is Education?

How important is education is a question that I know I have asked myself before and I know I am not the only one, made quite clear by our class discussion. I feel that sometimes without reassurance many young students are not sure of themselves and not sure what they want to do in life. Young adults are not prepared to make life altering decisions that they face, and often make rash decisions without certainty, and find themselves lost. The government sets up public schooling to prep kids for standardized tests. Everyone from elementary school on up through high school pretty much takes the same courses and the same tests, although perhaps unaware, are at constant competiton with their peers for a higher ‘number’. This number they compete for will help them achieve a spot in a number one school perhaps, where they will yet again compete with their peers with common goals in order to receive yet another number that will help them earn that job that will generate large numbers of dollars. This has become the standard, the norm of society and kids are under a lot of pressure expected to perform well.

I feel that kids are never given a chance to explore what they are good at and what they might be interested in doing in life, something that makes them truly happy. Instead our heads are clouded with this intense competition mind-set. More often than not, students college bound do not have a plan, and make their decisions of what to pursue based on a job they hope to land that will earn them a lot of money. Money dictates their path, rather than their genuine interests and happiness, thus many find themselves with careers or jobs that they are dissatisfied with. Some examples from our class discussion, were people's parents who found themselves in this position, and students who chose particular majors settling for something other than their true passion because of uncertainty of the amount of money coming from that path to be adequate. I know personally I originally wanted to pursue architecture. In my senior year of high school architecture courses were made available that I signed up for. I loved it, however when it came time to choose colleges and majors, I let my dream of being an architect go. My reasoning was that the only real reason I liked architecture so much is because it was the only unique class I took outside of the basics in high school, perhaps if I took something else I would of fell in love with that too. I made excuses why not to pursue it. Also, in the economy we are in and will most likely remain in when it’s time for me to get a job, I find it hard to believe that people will be building many houses, not to mention the finite amount of resources used to build houses is continuously depleting. I decided to pursue a field in the sciences and medicine, because at least I know there will always be a job available, people will always need medical care, and plus the money is good. Were these the right choices, I don’t know?

Michelle Obama gave a nice inspirational speech at a girl’s school in London England, in her first foreign visit as the First Lady. She told students that she shares very much in common with them everyone though they are living two very different lives at the moment. She noted that she was once in their shoes and that she never would of thought in her life that she would have became the First Lady, standing in front of them now. She was never wealthy growing up in Chicago and never had any resources or connections, but was raised by strong men and women. She said they are the ones that instilled love, respect, values, and hard-work in her. She got to where she is by hard-work, she said, “I liked being smart. I liked getting A’s. I thought being smart was the coolest thing in the world” (Obama). Yes, she is successful, however is she happy? I wonder if she is truly happy with all the responsibility that position holds despite all of the initial thrill and shock from fame. Maybe she is, but perhaps she was also just another victim of the rudimentary education system pressuring kids to do in school or else they will have no future. Perhaps, she was also another victim of the brainwashing system of working hard in school for that A, for money, which apparently defines success.

Michelle Obama also mentions the concept her husband always talked about, “The World as it is” and “The World as it should be.” She says, “We accept the distance between them and settle for “The World as it is,” but it is really important to close the gap and “Students need to build the future into the “World as it should be” (Obama). She believes education through schooling provides the facets for students to make this happen. She also affirms that “Your success comes from within you; you have control of your own destiny” (Obama). I think this is slightly construed being that many students feel that they are pressured by society to take the classes they do and go the route they go. They feel lost and unsure if what they are doing is right. Perhaps no one explained to them that money and A’s are not the only form and path to success. In fact there are also multiple intelligences according to the theory developed in 1983 by Dr. Howard Gardner a professor of education at Harvard University, that are never focused on. Intelligence based on I.Q. testing, he believes is far too limited.

“Dr. Gardner proposes eight different intelligences to account for a broader range of human potential in children and adults. These intelligences are: Linguistic intelligence ("word smart"), Logical-mathematical intelligence ("number/reasoning smart"), Spatial intelligence ("picture smart"), Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence ("body smart"), Musical intelligence ("music smart"), Interpersonal intelligence ("people smart"), Intrapersonal intelligence ("self smart"), and Naturalist intelligence ("nature smart"). Dr. Gardner says that our schools and culture focus most of their attention on linguistic and logical-mathematical intelligence. We esteem the highly articulate or logical people of our culture. However, Dr. Gardner says that we should also place equal attention on individuals who show gifts in the other intelligences: the artists, architects, musicians, naturalists, designers, dancers, therapists, entrepreneurs, and others who enrich the world in which we live” (Armstong).

Students who do not excel in the linguistic or logical-mathematical form of intelligences are often labeled as learning disabled, ADD, underachievers. They simply just not given the chance for their other form of intelligence to blossom and show itself, thus are never given the proper guidance they need to be successful in the future, and often these are the individuals who later find themselves lost. According to Armstrong, the theory of multiple intelligences proposes a major transformation in the way our schools and educational systems are run.

According to Don Berg a private nanny and individual who places his concern for children as a top priority, seeking to uncover and guide his students to pursue things that will utilize their potentials. He also understands the importance to recognize ‘multiple intelligences’. He states, “Schooling mostly consists of jumping through the hoops of instructional accounting to get symbolic rewards like test scores, grades, diplomas, degrees, etc. If the goal is only to get a job, then schooling is important. We certainly need to find our work in this world, but we are not on this earth to have a job. We are human beings who are supposed to make a meaningful contribution to the well-being of all that we are a part of. Having a job is less important than being a good person with meaningful work to do” (Berg). It is important that we do not automatically accept the value of schooling as the right path. My math teachers always said that there are many ways to solve a problem; this is the case with education as well. There are many different paths an individual can take to find his or her place in life and be successful. Schools are merely one tool that can be used to acquire an education, but they are certainly not the only, and can sometimes prove to be the incorrect path for some.

“Becoming an educated person means you have access to optimal states of mind regardless of the situation you are in. You are able to perceive accurately, think clearly and act effectively to achieve self-selected goals and aspirations” (Berg). This is why I commend Professor Hirsch for his unique teaching style. It has opened my eyes up and perhaps given me that bit of guidance and reinforcement whether he know it or not, that will help me find myself and perhaps the work I want; something that I enjoy doing, something that makes me genuinely happy. For those who are unsure of themselves and feel lost, I believe it is up to you to make the most of your undergraduate career. Take an array of diverse classes, do not limit yourself, and open your mind up to everything. I believe it will all fall into place, and most importantly, if you do know of something that interests you but are unsure of it due to ‘risks’, I say take the leap because you only live once. Doing what makes you happy is more important and more likely to bring you success than living as a drone.

Resources

Armstrong, Dr. Thomas . "Multiple Intelligences." ThomasArmstrong.com N.p., 2000. Web. 7 Dec. 2009. <http://www.thomasarmstrong.com/multiple_intelligences.htm>.

Berg, Don. "Is Education Important?!? Yes But School May Not Be." Teach-Kids-Attitude- 1st.com N.p., 2009. Web. 7 Dec. 2009. <http://www.teach-kids-attitude-1st.com/education-important.html>.

Obama, Michelle. "Michelle Obama's plea for education." TED Conferences, LLC, London. Apr. 2009. Web. 7 Dec. 2009. <http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/michelle_obama.html>.