A reply to Island, also a new discussion....

I hadn't had an idea that the "glass" discussion would trigger off another discussion----what are educations for? This question is often asked, but I'd still like to know what the members on the forum have to say. We know there many types of education, but they are often referred to as one kind, school education. Here some acquaintances ask my parents about my education, and they say I am teaching myself at home. They immediately change some other topics, as if they were afraid my parents would be embarrassed. "Doing what Romans do when I am in Rome," the education I am talking about in the following is specified as education in school. Why do we go to school every day? Why are we inundated with tons of schoolwork, homework, tests, and exams? Why do we have to study with others with the same curriculum at the same pace? What in the world does education bring to us? What is it for? It is for knowledge, for providing every one with equal opportunities, for chasing our dreams, for living a better life, for getting degrees. This world needs balance, so does education. A perfect education combines all these "fors" together and makes them balanced. Unfortunately, nothing is perfect, neither is education. Yesterday I read an article from the old Chinese textbook for college students. It tells of a boy born with birth effect making his living with his only left arm and hand by cutting seals. When he grew older enough to go to school, no school accepted him. Without any way out, his mother taught him and he learned all the textbooks of middle school all by himself. Gained enough knowledge he began studying seal cutting. Finally, his perseverance made him a household name and his seal was sent to the United Nations. His parents had made what he was today, but the author pointed out that "Our great nation---People Republic of China----has nurtured him and given him opportunities equal as healthy people." It is true, only if self-teaching and his mother's few wages could be regarded as the "opportunities." To him and many other physically challenged people, what is school education for? I read another story of how a writer, known as the King of Story for kids, educates his boy. His boy has no birth effect or disability. He is smart and creative just as is his father. One day his dad found him memorizing answers on some text paper. Dad became very angry when knowing his teacher asked all the students to do so because by cheating the students would earn high marks, and high marks mean more money awarded to the teacher. After primary school, the boy quitted school and started his home-schooling. Now at the age 19 he became a chief executive in a network company since he is fond of computers. By the way, it is impossible for a famous writer to get his son into a poor school. :-) Don't think I am going extremes due to the reason I haven't got chance to receive formal education. I don't mean schools are worthless. As many of you said in the previous discussion, every one thinks differently and need different things. Schools are still very worthy for most people. But the balance is being broken. "Why do you go to school?" You ask a pupil. "Because I want to go to university." "Why go to university?" "To get a job." "Why get a job?" "Because no job, no money. No money, I will have no food. No food, I will die." This is not made up. I happened to meet one child who said those words. He didn't utter the word "knowledge." How did a young child know this? He heard it from his parents. And his parents are the members in this society. More and more people are studying along with their work and families. That's good, because no one is too old to learn. Furthermore, as Mary said, education gives us ease in our work. What matters most, however, is to have a good purpose. Diplomas are for others to know what you've gained in knowledge in school, nothing more. Your skills have nothing to do with them. So diplomas aren't supposed to be your only "treasure" to brag about. They are certainly not something that may help you excel others who take another way to "education." They are not the only tools for you to work effectively and efficiently. In order to polish what you've learned through years of education you need to learn for the purpose of learning. The diploma is a proof for others while learning itself is a real treasure for you. But many people haven't realized it. That's a cause of why more than often we hear complaints from teachers that students don't study hard, of why bogus diplomas are popular, and of the poor educational quality "some" schools offer. Welcome to dispute with me. :-) Also welcome to talk about your standpoints. Jenny

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