HIGHER EDUCATION

   Just to be clear, I’ll state up front that I do indeed have a college degree. I don’t wish anything negative to be construed as sour grapes because I never made it to college.

   That said, I got my business degree when I was forty years old. I worked a full time job and was able to squeeze a two-year degree into seven years. I should host seminars on how to pull that feat off. Trust me, it’s not as easy as it sounds. I felt like I was living two separate lives condensed into one body. The point is that I have a unique perspective from both sides of the tracks.

   I suppose part of my frustration with the whole higher education process are the things you must learn to be pronounced “enlightened”. I wouldn’t mind studying unrelated and pointless things, but this is costing me a semester of time. Besides, this is not a cheap endeavor. For this kind of cash I should be remotely interested, but often I was not. But, I’m sure I learned something valuable to put in my sack for the journey.

   But, there was a gap between the idealistic expectation and the “feet on the ground” reality. Originally, I was filled with anticipation of having the world’s smartest people impart so many valuable things to me. I would attend classes in these huge buildings that showcase awesome architecture. With structures that incredible, there had to be brilliance housed inside. I felt a little smarter just walking in the door, with an air that I somehow belonged.

   Once inside, we would be taught how to disseminate information, discriminate among the conflicting ideas in the world, using logic and intelligence and valid rationale to scrap poor ideas and celebrate the good ones. If there was disagreement, the truth-seeking rational minds would meet and intelligently discuss until there was regard for the opposing opinion, if not agreement.

   Although I was middle-aged, my head was so buried in the sand. In reality, we have room for a wide spectrum of thought, just as long as it doesn’t conflict with what we all decide to be the best way. Free thinking is what we all espouse until someone gets serious about an opposing view. Suddenly, one must choose between his/her convictions or the prospect of repeating the class next semester due to a failing grade.

   I have heard it said that the goal of education is to teach the student to think for himself. I fear that is no longer true. The revised goal is to get everyone thinking and believing in lockstep. Higher Indoctrication would be a more accurate term.

   There have been many stories of professors who have jeopardized their careers or tenure for taking a stand contrary to the establishment. If the University is “the marketplace of ideas” where tolerance is exalted above all else, why aren’t we anxious to hear all of the ideas?

   If anyone disagrees with this, try this experiment. Go into your institution and announce that you believe Global Warming is a hoax, and that you believe the evidence offered by scientists whose reports are ignored. Or this: offer the opinion that traditional marriage is the best thing for children and Society, that you believe we should not abandon 5000 years of an institution that makes for an orderly civilization just because a small percentage want it.

   It won’t take very long to figure out that tolerance is a buzzword that no one really practices.

   I mentioned earlier that I was in my forties when I earned my degree. Although I was frustrated with my late arrival at the time, I am thankful for it now. Had I been 19 years old, I may have swallowed every notion hook, line and sinker as well. I may have quickly adopted bogus philosophies as my own like the others did.  

   College was a great experience, a real challenge, and very overrated.