This is a story of an adventure in education, pursued not under the best of conditions. The idea of education has been so tied to school, universities, and professors that many assume there is no other way, but education is available to anyone within reach of a library, a post office, or even a newsstand.
We in this day (twenty-first century) and place (the US, other industrialized countries) are so very rich. I have a library of thousands of books in my home. Mr. L’Amour, during his hobo days, bought cheap paperbacks and borrowed whatever was available from his fellows or from his workplace or the library. Nevertheless, he educated himself because he hadn’t lost the curiosity and the thirst for knowledge that is built into every child. He did it mostly without schools or teachers. He read and he lived. I really wonder sometimes whether encouraging my children to go to college is such a good idea.
Carmon and several others at Buried Treasure Blog have been discussing whether or not it should be a default decision for young women to go to college. I am beginning to wonder whether most young men and young women wouldn’t receive a better education from working, reading, and living instead of spending four years in the artificial and very expensive environment of the university. I make this statement with one daughter in college now and a son who’s planning to attend college in the fall. It seems to me that if an education is the goal, Mr. L’Amour is right: anyone in our society who pursues an education can easily get one—and continue getting it for the remainder of his life.
On the other hand, if it’s credentials you want . . .
What a shame to think of the hours this country collectively spends satisfying that thirst for knowledge with entertainment! I wonder how many great minds of the past might not have become that, if they had lived here and now.
Interesting and thought-provoking post, Sherry. I wonder many of the same things about “education” and living.
“Educating a wondering Man” was a book our son read and enjoyed greatly. When we read books that teach us, inspire us we are collaborting with great minds that can take us places we never dreamed possible. Thanks for your thoughtful post.
Maribel
I don’t think college is about the education so much as it is about the degree. That piece of paper that tells the world you did something so now they can hire you. That’s the only reason I went…to teach, I needed that piece of paper. In an economics class I took, we examined the economic advantages of higher education. Sure, a college grad can start out making more than a high school grad, but the hs grad has a four year start once the college kid graduates. Four years of wages and experience. And the college kid is in the whole…he quite likely has accrued a bit of debt to pay off. By the time that is all equalled out, even the kid flipping burgers has probably made it into management and is making more than most teachers. Depressing, really.
Thanks for the recommendation. I am thinking on this issue a lot lately. I agree that college is not necessarily the best way to get educated – but I’m not sure I want to send my kids out into the world uncredentialed, either. I’ll be reading this book, definitely.
My boys loved to read Mr L’Amour’s novels and they always said, “Mama you would love this guy he is always talking about books and learning.”