Education for sale!

Lately I've been thinking about the role of education. In particular, the influence of grade's kindergarten through 12. Are the teachers really there to help us maximize our potential or are they there as babysitters? Honestly, in my grade 12 year, I learned more on my own than in the classroom, thanks to Wikipedia.

I guess teachers are there to expose you to the many directions available; to illuminate the pathways. But it still seems as if we are being taught how to be a respectable worker. Show up on time, have your work done by the deadline, collaborate with peers, ask assistance from superiors, and produce a fine finished product. These are the essentials that are ingrained into us by our mentors. Think about how restricting this is; it starves off the creative process. Artistic human beings don't allow time constraints to limit them, a lack of resources to hold them back, or the judgment of others to influence their work.

Is school simply a manufacturing plant for robots that don't break rules? Robots whose performance is graded according to how well they 'stayed within the box'. The greatest minds in history were the ones that strayed from the pack. The eccentric Albert Einstein or the volatile Van Gogh. Many people of socially conformed society labeled them mad, but they've made some of the biggest contributions to the human race.

School isn't a bad thing, but it could be greatly improved. One suggestion: philosophy being requisite in every grade. The pursuit of knowledge will set the mind free. If you aim for enlightenment, you will see the sun.

Freedom

Booze and Drugs

The key here is self-control.

The consumption of these substance sins is near harmless if taken in moderation. Now, I am speaking from experience; as I have done my share of experimentation. I have yet to feel any pull to a drug.

I believe that it is a mental thing more than any other factor. If you can tell yourself with confidence that you won't abuse the substance, then you wont. If you believe that you can conquer the substance, then your behavior will reflect that. This is the basis of the self-fulfilling prophecy.

As for a reason behind the intake of any of the substances at hand, it is completely up to you. For myself, I enjoy trying new things; to the point you wont believe. I will carry out tasks or experiments that may be masochistic to myself or maybe sadistic to other people if I know that their gain equals more than their loss. An example you ask?

Hmmm...how about convincing somebody with arthritis to bungee jump or someone with a fear of public speaking to sing in front of a crowd in a public space. Yes, fear and humility have them chained back, but I think it is better to be unchained and possibly suffer, then to remain ignorant of what you are not suffering from. As Plato says in his Cave allegory, enlightenment may make you dizzy and nauseous at first, but once experienced, you can never go back to the dark world.

So, my advice? If you live in your own direction as opposed to being led by life's chauffeurs, then go ahead and give 'em a try. You will experience different feelings and thoughts that you may be able to translate to the sober world. This is definitely worth it as long as no harm comes of it.

Happy travels!

And remember, "Everyday in every way, I make myself better and better."