Earlier, as I contemplated the various classes I may entertain this coming fall, I noticed the phrase printed on the cover of the class schedule, which reads “Education is … Access to the World.”
I gazed at this particular statement, at first, in agreement, but later in, only what I may phrase, utter disgust. I mean no harm to whomever coined this haunting sentence, but it seems to me that it is horribly misguiding.
This statement, as in my case, seems perfectly sound upon first glance, but I must refute it with each secondary glimpse.
It may sound as if I merely overanalyze the intent of the phrase, as is typically mentioned in conversations that I have been engaged in, but I find major fault not within the phrase itself, the fault lies within the education that is mentioned in this claim.
What is implied by education? It seems that education, used in this sense, is nothing more than thoughts written in an overpriced book. These overpriced thoughts are sold to the student as a prerequisite for success within the particular class the book is required.?
Don’t misunderstand my meaning in this peculiar idea, I agree wholeheartedly that books are of necessity within the classroom. I enjoy the books I have obtained for the various classes I have taken, especially those of which were purchased for classes within my majors.? But I do not agree that the type of education offered in a classroom, by these books, is much of an education at all.?
When reading these books that are required for various classes, education seems to be reduced to mere memorization of the statements found within the particular literature. The words within seem to be taken as truth without question, and are hardly inquired about as to whether their truth holds.?
I do not intend on criticizing any particular method of instruction, but something is wrong with the way we are taught, or at least the way we learn. So I may indeed be criticizing this particular method of instruction.?
I seem to fall into a dismal school of thought, which only allows sense perception as the mean in which knowledge is obtained. I understand that if I were to read a book that I do indeed sense the words within; from my initial sensation I later make sense of this primary perception through a method of reasoning.?
I seem to think that such a method of sense perception would be much more beneficial if the experiences found within the pages of a particular book were experienced by the reader firsthand.?
Such a method is found within classes of science for a minute four hours a week, which is dubbed a lab, and I am certain these experiences can be found in various internships, fellowships, or other such activities that cater to one’s senses.?
But I am not convinced that one would be accepted into a particular occupation without first obtaining some other’s secondary notion.?
By this reasoning I understand a college degree must be held before the world can be obtained. I hold this statement to be, as the statement described before, overtly disturbing.
How do I suggest an education should be gained? I feel that a much more active role must be taken to gather a proper edification (I understand this word to mean enlightenment, which is more or less what an ideal education is).
I reason that a true education is one that allows your access to the world be where learning is acquired.
I strongly feel that the only true sense of education is one of which is gained by a particular person’s senses; not one that is gathered by the memorization of another’s senses.?
In closing, I suggest the reader reverse the phrase found upon the Fall 2008 Class Schedule, and read it as “Access to the World … is Education.”?

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