Re: Reforming Education

Cynthia (cyn386@flash.net)
Fri, 08 Oct 1999 11:44:05 -0700

Clint O'Dell wrote:

> If I chose not to be educated then I won't get the jobs because you will
> take them all up. Now let's be fare to all people here. Let's not start a
> war. There is a way we both can have what we want.

It is not that simple. If you can't take care of yourself, society (government, private organizations, your family) will take care of you. And instead of facing the consequences of your decision, you will become a burden to society. It simply is not in the nature of most of us, to enjoy luxuries while people around us are starving.

Hence, society will try to pressure you into getting educated no matter what. It may well be your education is nobody else's business, but society does have a vested interest in making sure that you are capable of taking care of yourself and making a positive contribution to society.

I think it is 'wrong headed' the way society tries to pressure people into getting more years of 'education', instead of encouraging learning of all types. But society looks after its own self interest, and attempting to make society not do that because of 'principals' is like arguing with a hungry lion. You can't win.