I think most people have this same mindset. The “why am I learning this and am I ever going to use this mindset.” I had it in college. I aced tests, quizzes and papers but retained very little. What was the point in retaining it if I was never going to use it? In addition, I think application goes hand-in-hand with memory. How many skills have we learned, but never used, that we still remember?

Moreover, I think these people take this mindset to the extreme. They think books are full of junk they’ll never use. Some textbooks are really abstract-not all-and people have a hard time seeing a purpose in them if they don’t flat out say, “I do this, use me to accomplish this.”

Besides, there are multiple ways of learning,not everyone learns the same way. I’ve spoken to people that don’t like to read and say they’re through with their education. They ask me why I read and I ask them why they don’t read. Their reply: they know everything they need to know to solve their problems, get a job, fix food, etc. So why?

I can’t argue with that. I mean, thinking is a skill that’s needs to be exercised and so is the brain BUT people don’t even exercise their bodies or even take care other habits I’d consider important so what can you say, those are only my values?

What got me reading again? For one, my university paid me $400 to try out the speed reading program they were putting together and I wanted to try out my new skills. Plus, some guy gave me a copy of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” When I finally read it, I got some sort of high. After that, I saw the endless power of books.

But back to the post. I think it helps to point out what it’s for. The purpose, whixh there are many. When people don’t see a purpose or a reason, that’s where I think it stops. You’d think the reasons were obvious but they’re not always so. And even when they are they still have to resonate with a person’s values.

For example, let’s use food as an analogy. I used to eat to stop my stomach from rumbling and hurting. Otherwise, I didn’t see much other purpose for eating, other than sometimes it would taste good, or eating for comfort. Then last year I was hit with the concept of eating to live, which totally made since to me. Growing up, nutrition was the last thing on my mind. As a teen, I thought the only thing I needed was calcium, protein and vitamin C. Now that I’ve grown in consciousness, awareness, and the holistic view of how everything works together, I see the purpose and I’ve made it important to me.

It is sad though that some equate graduation with the end of education. It’s similar to the way some people see martial arts. Some think that it’s over once they get their black belt. But most black belts I’ve spoken to say they barely started to make sense of everything around maybe the 2nd or 3rd degree of black.

Education in Italy is getting killed.. they cut founds continuosly… Only God knows what do they do with all that money they cut on health, education, social security.

This is not conspiracy, this is reality man

The truth is, the government is not that dumb and not that smart. It is formed by people that have gone through the system as well.

The actual problem is that education si not really education.
I would call it programming, manipulation.
That’s what they do on us.
They build our vision of the world so it will be hard to break our self imposed limits.
They want us to become robots, not humans. They want us to be efficient and strong, not also intelligent, aware and free.

Think about a world in which everyone would use the brain in its full potential and comunicate with other people in a better and more sincere way.

What would happen?

Reviewing my post now sort of makes me feel like an superiority-complex-toting egotist at best. Still, the introspection is helpful in making sure I don’t sound like some ranting dogmatist later on. I think it isn’t really going to help, though. Oh well.

Also, neat site you have here. I should link this to my friend.

As for formal education, I wish it weren’t true, but depending on what you want to do with your life and if you want a particular job, a degree may be necessary. For example if you want to be a clinical psychologist, an undergraduate AND a graduate degree are absolutely necessary. If however you want to paint, sing in a band, consult, or create of any kind then by no means is a formal education necessary.

I think what really bothers me is that companies are getting lazy in their hiring processes. There are so many people out there now with college degrees that the first requirement listed in most job descriptions is: Bachelor’s degree required. — Even when experience could easily be exchanged for a degree (as is especially the case with graphic design and art director positions at many companies).

Formal education is necessary? For what? I never graduated and already accomplished more than most of the people of my age that I know.

It’s hard for me to respond that how. I just do, and most people that do it as well, would also have problems answering to that question. If you don’t have the passion, that’s hard to “install.”