What does it mean to be truly educated?
Modern day American society places a large emphasis on education, valuing it as an essential function to a developed society. To reach a higher education, schools, universities, and colleges intend to reach a higher standard of learning and teach the next generations.
There exists an inherent difference between school and education. While deeply correlated, almost to the point that one cannot exist without the other, there must be a defined balance between the two. With effort and observation, anyone can gain a personal education, regardless of the formal schooling they receive. To be truly educated means developing the knowledge and skill to look beyond the standard meaning to find the hidden complexity. Education is meant to teach people about the everything around them, and provide the necessary skills to navigate the world.
In September, I first asked myself, “What does it mean to be educated?” The basis of my thoughts stemmed mainly from my time in the public school education system. Formal assignments and strict grading policies have been the basis for my experience at school. The education I gained was from taking notes in class, and studying to do well on tests. To a certain extent, my focus was completely ingrained in the grade received for every assignment.
But as the year continued, my ideas on education shifted. I realized that a strong education can easily be gained at school, but only if the student works their hardest to make sure they are learning from each assignment. Traditional schooling provides the perfect opportunity for learning, but also the perfect opportunity to manipulate the system simply for a better grade. Rather than relying only on formal schooling, it is the complexity behind assignments that provide the opportunity for retaining new information and developing new opinions about the world.
Grades should not be the sole motivator in a course, and one should be willing to take risks as learners. Mindlessly going through assignments prevents the student from gaining anything from their time. Everyone personally has control of their education; they simply need to seize advantage of the learning opportunities presented.
The limitations of finding a strong education — teachers, budgets, location, outside influences — can be detrimental to the education of an individual. But with a personal investment in whatever opportunity comes along, a person can develop an education as strong as they will it to be.
A strong example of an education based on personal investment, rather than schooling, can be seen in the story of civil rights leader Malcolm X. Malcolm X failed to move past secondary schooling, but his experience in prison shaped him in a way that no professor could have taught him. His ownership of his actions, including reading a multitude of books, shaped him into someone renowned by many as an intellectual and well-versed man.
Even outside of the traditional school environment, there are always opportunities for observation and further intellectual gain. A continuous growth in education cannot be gained from being satisfied or having a strong acceptance for things assumed as normal; learning can be found in continued observations and inquiry.
With these ideas in mind, it is easy to take inspiration from Malcolm X. His limitations as a youth prevented him from formal education, but his individual drive and passion for knowledge was key to shaping him into the man he is remembered as today. The large variety of books, coupled with his experiences of multiple perspectives, allowed him to be able to formulate his own philosophy. This philosophy was specific to his needs, and to the education that he hoped to gain through experience.
Malcolm X placed a large value on individual responsibility to seize advantage of educational opportunities. There is always an opportunity for further learning; oftentimes it can be found in the formal school system through a personal ambition to learn. By continuously being aware of what is around us, a stronger educational benefit can be gained. Mindlessly doing the bare minimum amount of work and letting life pass by simply makes us lose out on the learning opportunity. It is hard to acknowledge the things that surround us all the time, but is is important to realize the things taken for granted.
The article, “This is Water”, by David Foster Wallace, highlights Wallace’s idea that it is easy to succumb to accepting all things surrounding you. He told the story of two young fish who did not know what water was, despite having been surrounded by it their entire lives. This anecdote focuses on the concept of appreciating everything that is around you. Valuing the small things brings a greater perspective, and a larger understanding of the world that surrounds us everyday. Taking ideas directly from Wallace, being aware of your surroundings provides a stronger basis for realizing new things and shaping new opinions. This larger comprehension shapes a more educated individual, creating a person with developed perspectives and thoughts.
Today, it is fairly easy for the American youth to go to school; in fact, it is required by law that all children attend. Despite the relative abundance of learning opportunities at school, not everyone can be considered a well-educated person. To be truly educated, one must completely invest in every opportunity, and stay curious in the world around them. A passion for education is essential to shaping our individual beliefs, ideas, and attitudes. Only with a strong personal investment can the largest gain be made. School provides the baseline for our knowledge. But education is what truly shapes an independent and influential individual, allowing us to discover our water.
Sources
Haley, Alex, and Malcolm X. The Autobiography of Malcolm X. New York: Ballantine, 1992. Print.
Wallace, David Foster. “This Is Water.” 2009. Web. <http://bulletin.kenyon.edu/x4280.html>.