Is institutional schooling the opiate of the masses?

[dj_soo]

Originally Posted by yoko*

I think we're talking about liberal arts education/courses here though. I mean, there actually is such thing as useful practical technical education with applications to REAL LIFE problems that can be solved materially.

liberal arts courses tend to deal with social values and so the perceived "problems" and their perceived "solutions" are never agreed upon by all. They are instead discussed to death while no real social change is materialized.

Scholars in the liberal arts never lack the courage to point out what's wrong in society, but as soon as it comes to solving the problems they "discover", they retreat into their shells. I guess this is why liberal arts prepares you well for law school. It teaches you to identify problems where they doesn't exist and to argue for any perspective under the sun.

sweet. I knew my liberal arts degree had to be good for something...

[tiedye]

I always thought those degrees just gave you an advantage arguing on internet forums.

[azazel]

Originally Posted by yoko*

The entire experience of "The current generation" is not embodied in your one-person example of a girl who was brainwashed by her parents to pursue education simply because it's the right thing to do, and not because she had an academic or career objective in mind.

well she wasn't just brainwashed by her parents. what do you think her counselors told her? We have to admit that schooling is an industry that depends on you staying on the reservation as long as possible.

Originally Posted by yoko*

Some people spend more than 22 years in academia to reach a career or personal objective or because they enjoy learning what they do.

for people who 'learn' in the setting of a classroom as a personal objective, they are in a state of arrested development. srsly.

Anyone who would prefer to collect gold stars and certificates as opposed to actually making an impact outside of the classroom is out to lunch.

Originally Posted by yoko*

The only people who are wasting their time in the schooling system are those who drag their feets through the experience for the sake of someone other than themselves.

Or the ones who have ambition :idea:

[shogun rua]

gawrsh

[tiedye]

I can't decide whether my err-plane pun was good or not.

[Mr Ektion]

"Religion is the opiate for the masses". I thought the phrase was explained more like "it keeps the poor from killing the rich" not like "it keeps everyone numbed out and passive". Religion must be defined on a global scale. The constants between religions must be evaluated. it can be summed up in, "don't do to others what you would not want done to yourself" (the 10 commandments - the 7 deadly sins, two completely different schools of thought).

And no, this doesn't apply to education. Education wraps itself around the idea of the Collective Unconscious. Without the ability to read, write, speak (apply math & science and exercise via basic physical education).. we wouldn't be able to pass stories of why some things work and other things don't. How would we be able to teach basic critical life skills? We wouldn't have moral stories and analogies to help us pave the way to adulthood. We wouldn't understand why it's important to value the minutia in personal health.

In regard to your original arguement. No. We live in a much more complex time. i think a 12 year old now is equivalent to a 17 year old in the 1800's, it's just that our responsibilities are displaced. We now have television, radio, books and the internet that give a young person (with enough time and guidance) enough foresight of the evils (and joys) of the world. Education can make someone just as cynical as ambitious. and just as foolish as wise.

The original poster is someone who has a bad taste in their mouth for the education system because he didn't tap into it. And it's a tough nut to swallow if you read popular books but don't have someone to talk to about the book afterwards..

School also teaches you interpersonal communication skills...

[shogun rua]

bizzump