So education is back to haunt us again. From Booker T. Washington to W.E.B DuBois, the one question that leaves a resounding note is: Why educate ourselves?" Why establish intitutions of higher ed that try and develop a holistic approach to enable students to become independent and free thinkers? What's the place of a science class in a Literature major? I've thought about this often, and honestly, to my mind, the ideal major would be a combination of history, political science, art and literature. I think most people who know me also know by now that I am inextricably attached to books. But how does that reflect on the formal education that I've received? I hope that my education has served its purpose in liberating my mind of the prejudices that I've seen around me; that I've been taught to question blind faith and that I've carried my teachings into my every day life. Case in point being:
What place in the future development of the South ought the Negro college and college-bred man to occupy? That the present social separation and acute race-sensitiveness must eventually yield to the influences of culture, as the South grows civilized, is clear. But such transformation calls for singular wisdom and patience" ( Of the Training of Black Men 7).
This is a man after my own heart, I tell ya. Yes change needs time, patience and wisdom. In an ideal society, every new generation would learn from the mistakes of the previous one and slowly and surely trickle down change through the social ranks. Not to say that it hasn't happened, but significant change usually waits for radical movements that take over society by storm. Proven theorem in history, and reiterated by DuBois:
When sticks and stones and beasts form the sole environment of a people, their attitude is largely one of determined opposition to and conquest of natural forces. But when to earth and brute is added an environment of men and idea, then the attitude of the imprisoned group may take three main forms,- a feeling of revolt and revenge; an attempt to adjust all thought and action to will of the greater group"( Of Mr. Booker T. Washington 3).
This is the eye of the storm, as it were. The perfect condition for people to look amongst themselves and find the one person that can lead them through their adversity and pain and suffering. Are leaders born or made? Does every event they encounter, including the education they receive, culminate into a single purpose? Perhaps. Leaders like Gandhi, Mandela and Martin Luther King found their voices when the need was dire. Which is a great segue to ask the question: Just how far can oppression linger before people start realizing that they need to make a difference in their lives and for the lives of generations to come? What empowers their free thought? Knowledge. Education. The good stuff.
The world's a circle. Have I ever told you about the time I went picketing?
Posted by NehaBawa at November 16, 2005 08:46 PM | TrackBackNeha--
I just wanted to comment on your personal musings. Regarding formal education, I agree with you. I wish we could combine majors and make one, well-rounded major. Unfortunately, the wrong people are working on this and have already established this. It's called liberal arts requirements. I agree that everyone should be exposed to a variety, but it would be nice to pick things that coincided with your interests or majors. Yes, I am an elementary education person, so Physics or Calculus isn't necessary for my occupation. However, astronomy or statistics could be more useful.
Also, I just wanted to add that I was doing another assignment today where I discussed Gardner's Multiple Intelligences. Martin Luther King Jr. and Madeline Albright are considered to be gifted in the Interpersonal intelligence. This says that they were born with a great capacity to notice and make distinctions among people. They can also notice contrasts in moods, temperaments, motivations, and intentions. Alright, I hope this kinda helped your leadership question. Check out this site if you want more info on the intelligences...http://www.infed.org/thinkers/gardner.htm
Posted by: Meredith Harber at November 17, 2005 12:00 AMWhat? No room for Algebra in your life? I would say, despite my experience with it, that some forms of math are a necessity, used along with language in a daily basis. And how about Psychology? Sociology? Even in their rudimentary levels they are of extreme importance in our lives.
Education, it seems to me, is sought by those who questioned and so gravitated towards learning to seek answers. Though I must add the caveat that for the past three or more decades it has been led more by career choice and making (money)a future for oneself and one's family. To the point of becoming a necessity and raising employment requirements to Masters Degrees in some professional areas to limit the field. I would hope to see a society where the urge to learn is inspired at the elementary levels, and see scholarships or complete government capital invested in those who reveal a higher level of intelligence (yep, gotta base this on scores, I suppose) and desire rather than how well they carry or toss a ball--which basically, is another scoring system.
Posted by: susan at November 17, 2005 11:59 AM