Is education worth a damn?

[Belle RoseParticipant]

I was told from the time I have memories that “just get a degree in anything because employers just want to know you finished something.” I come from a very educated family. But all things considered, only one of which could be labeled as a “success.”

I always thought reaching the highest level of academic achievement would be meaningful.

Now I’m not so sure.

I’ve been warned and coached AGAINST pursuing any more education.

And now I’m at a crossroads.

I wonder if education is meaningless. After all, I’m likely to stay at the bottom anyway….

 

 

[Reg the Fronkey FarmerModerator]

I’ve been warned and coached AGAINST pursuing any more education..

Is that person(s) qualified to tell you this?

You are smart. Education is not meaningless if you study what is of interest to you. If you have an interest in finance then a business degree is of benefit. If you are musical then a course taken to learn the piano to Grade 3 will make your live more enjoyable. It’s all relative…..just as those with an interest in Cosmology know that today is the centenary of the proof of Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity.

You can study just for the enjoyment of learning something new. Never mind the opinions of others. Do whatever you want to do.

[Belle RoseParticipant]

I am enrolled to start my PhD next week….a business mentor told me “You don’t need a PhD.”…..

[Belle RoseParticipant]

Got my M.S beginning of May and I’ve been told “You have way too much education.” It’s another $40k investment to the PhD level is why I’m considering….Or I might instead go to a 9 month wilderness college and learn how to survive in the Wild Incase “The Big One” strikes…. Lol

[tom sarbeckParticipant]

Ivy, at 88 years, five months and 17 days, I’m a lifelong learner.

IMO, education is worth multiple damns but books are one of many sources.

If you’re bored, try politics. It’s personal relationships of a rather intense kind.

[Simon PayntonParticipant]

I think that education is a way to help you to reach your full potential.

Surely a PhD means that one is an expert in something, and has learned to think like an expert.  I know that half-completing two degrees (maths and computer science) taught me some valuable lessons in how to think.

[Glen DParticipant]

tom sarbeck wrote:

Ivy, at 88 years, five months and 17 days, I’m a lifelong learner. IMO, education is worth multiple damns but books are one of many sources. If you’re bored, try politics. It’s personal relationships of a rather intense kind.

Good for you Tom. I’m a few  years younger ,but couldn’t agree more.

I did all of my further education part time and often at night. That finished at age 38. I continued reading, and learning; A bit slower these days, so I read only non fiction. Currently a couple of books about Hypatia of Alexandria, a mathematician and philosopher in Alexandria in the 4th century. She was murdered by a Christian mob, at the urging of the bishop of Alexandria.

Bought my first computer at age 51. I  knew nothing , so it soon started to cost me money. So I learned. About 5 years  later , I started a small niche business, fixing pc’s for computer illiterates in my age group. Did that fora few years.Never made much money, but a got to meet some very interesting people.

Ignorance can be very expensive in all kinds of ways.

I believe education is the magic bullet. Of course that includes formal study, but it actually includes  all kinds of learning, which imo should only stop when you die.

Having said that, there is no way I could have done any further study if our education system were as expensive as that of the US. At the time I studied, there were no tuition fees in Australian Universities. My employer paid the small tuition fees for my diploma course.

 

Apologies; I’m having a problem with the block quote

• This reply was modified 5 years, 7 months ago by  Glen D.
• This reply was modified 5 years, 7 months ago by  Glen D.

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