What makes someone a philosopher? An artist? What about a teacher? Or a scientist? At what point and, under what entity’s authority, did we decide only those with degrees or particular views hold increased value?
I understand and accept that many will dispute my argument here, but I found it quite interesting to ponder upon from where educational value came. So, I decided to share my thoughts with all of you.
The Educational Ponzi Scheme
Ok, before anyone loses control, some fields benefit significantly from advanced schooling and education. I don’t oppose anyone’s choice to attend school; as a matter of fact, I hold a Bachelor’s myself. Regrets? Yes. Slowed me down? Absolutely. As a matter of fact, in some cases, I even appreciate the requirements. And, by all means, please do your due diligence when consuming or employing.
But at the end of the day, I still question under whose say so? Why do we give greater authority to those who learned through a school over some other method? Is learning a preset curriculum that useful in the real world?
Philosopher’s Value
A dictionary search for what makes someone a philosopher suggests that a philosopher is one who studies philosophy. I’d challenge, why not one include that they profess, confess, or at least recorded theirs, but I digress. However, in the magical world of the InterWebs, top results imply an advanced degree is required.
Who died and made you boss of who philosophizes? We all hold the ability to think, why do we accept that someone who paid for school studied more, better, with greater accuracy than someone who purposefully reflected on the same information. Or, those who ponder endlessly in an objective manner, the world around them?
Who defined the threshold of learning one must yield to reach philosopher status? I’d argue, some could study forever and never rattle off an original thought. Is there even a right or wrong?
An Artist’s Value
The artist creates their work and gives you a piece of themselves in the process. The value of each work comes from the time, energy, and money needed to create it combined with the purchaser’s desire to obtain it. We learn about the great success stories in the artistic world, but how many others get missed or diminished in the public eye. Each artist provides a unique interpretation in their creations. Each piece is not better or worse than another, only different.
The Value of Teachers
Teachers mold the minds of students, young and old. Their job is not easy or straightforward. The value we seek from them is the ability to learn, understand, and think. On the other hand, standardization gets in the way which results in students memorizing and repeating facts. Our school systems remove creativity and passion, replacing them with uniformity. As a result, students are left frustrated, bored, and sometimes uneducated.
Scientists
I’m sorry, but science is better suited to be learned through experimentation and analysis rather than by memorization and indoctrination. Granted, yes, some of the education is experimentation, but not more than one could do on their own should they choose. The public, in many cases, can access the same established information and could learn on their own just the same. Does a scientist need to know more than the scientific method to do the action of science?
Ultimately, I believe in educating oneself, and I am not opposed to educational facilities. But, the truth is, we give them more credit than they are due. The educational institutions control information in efforts to obtain more money. In America, we pay astronomical amounts of money in return for mediocre educations and no guarantees. The government can’t fix the problems, dissolving debt and taxpayer-funded colleges won’t help. We, as a group, give these institutions value, and in the same fashion, we can give others who deserve it the same.
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