Malcom Muggeridge was also rather dubious about the benefits of education:
"Education, the great mumbo jumbo and fraud of the age purports to equip us to live and is prescribed as a universal remedy for everything from juvenile delinquency to premature senility."
When I read this a decade ago, I thought it absurd. Now I see it as a spot-on analysis.
Notice the (probably intentional) implication: If you, a non-scientist, disagree with a statement of fact made by a scientist, you are by definition wrong, *even if it later turns out that you were right*.
Some day I’m going to start a club with my friends and we’re going to discuss your substack articles. I love them. Even if I have to read them a few times to completely absorb!
I homeschooled both my boys in the 80’s and 90’s and the first thing others brought up was the socializing issue. You learn so much not being in a traditional school and it’s not hard! There’s so much more available now. My oldest son is a nurse now and very smart. My younger son in addition to working in tech is a musician. He taught himself how to play the guitar. Was a worship leader for years. They’re both very personable and smart! The main thing is involve them in everyday life, they’ll do the learning. 😁
Would add that my long connection to institutional education makes it quite clear to me that... yes, there are terrible schools, and there are great schools, but even the great schools suffer drawbacks that seem to inevitably appear when you try to do education in this mass institutional, sometimes said industrialized, manner. There many be benefits too in bringing many people together like that, but there are also inevitable drawbacks.
Malcom Muggeridge was also rather dubious about the benefits of education:
"Education, the great mumbo jumbo and fraud of the age purports to equip us to live and is prescribed as a universal remedy for everything from juvenile delinquency to premature senility."
When I read this a decade ago, I thought it absurd. Now I see it as a spot-on analysis.
Notice the (probably intentional) implication: If you, a non-scientist, disagree with a statement of fact made by a scientist, you are by definition wrong, *even if it later turns out that you were right*.
Some day I’m going to start a club with my friends and we’re going to discuss your substack articles. I love them. Even if I have to read them a few times to completely absorb!
Heh. Appreciate the compliment!
I homeschooled both my boys in the 80’s and 90’s and the first thing others brought up was the socializing issue. You learn so much not being in a traditional school and it’s not hard! There’s so much more available now. My oldest son is a nurse now and very smart. My younger son in addition to working in tech is a musician. He taught himself how to play the guitar. Was a worship leader for years. They’re both very personable and smart! The main thing is involve them in everyday life, they’ll do the learning. 😁
Would add that my long connection to institutional education makes it quite clear to me that... yes, there are terrible schools, and there are great schools, but even the great schools suffer drawbacks that seem to inevitably appear when you try to do education in this mass institutional, sometimes said industrialized, manner. There many be benefits too in bringing many people together like that, but there are also inevitable drawbacks.