Education has been rated very highly in almost all countries across the globe. Many peole believe that the more education you receive the more successful you are. More years of education, higher levels of degree, and better performance in school all are linked to increased chances to find a job, higher salaries, higher social ranks, linger life, better health, less likely to commit a crime, etc., etc. With this notion, everyone from parents, to community leaders, state governers, up to the president of a nation, are always very proud to talk about education, and feel bad if not adequaetely investing in education. I have never heard anyone who ever challenged this notion, at least re-think over it.
In my opinion, Education does NOT EQUAL years of schooling or degrees received. If a child has difficulties completing primary school, how can we expect this child to get into middle or high school, not to mention colleges and graduate schools? Even if a person get the highest degress (e.g., PhDs), the likelihood for this person not to find a job can never be zero. Not all those who get high degrees get high pay jobs, d live a happy life, and do not commit crime; and vice versa. Given the fact that individuals differ in potentials to be educated, our current education system works simply as a filter – those who are more capable to pass the rules set by our education system will win the game, excluding those who fail. In another word, all the ‘evidence’ about the advantages of education are based on ‘smart’ children. Edcation matters only for them. Harvard is famous because it educates the most capable students. If Havard can train a high school drop out to become the first rank scholar, that would the evidence for its superior to other schools!
Imaging if a free and compulsory education is provided to everyone up to the highest degree possible, individual diffeences wre for sure exist in health, employment, and social achievement. In this case, education becomes a constant, any differences will have little to do with education.
6/26/2011, by Jim Sweet
Agreed!
Be smart to plan your education. If you’re very smart, aim at the best schools; if you’re around average, seek the average schools; if you’re so so, never not even think about the best schools. How can you tell where you are? In today’s system, the best shot is the nationwide standard test, such as SAT, ACT.