The modern education system and higher education system are taken for granted today. It is assumed that going through the education system will result in an individual who can positively contribute to society. But what is the value of an education?
What Is The Value Of An Education?
Types Of Education
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines education as “the action or process of educating or of being educated” and “the field of study that deals mainly with methods of teaching and learning in school.”
The first type of education requires action. It is done by oneself. Self-teaching is a form of self-development.
The second type of learning is taught by a teacher in the education system. It is what most people are familiar with. It is what society teaches people to think is education.
The modern education system is an industrialized process in which schools must follow a state’s required academic standards. Public schools must follow these standards, while private schools can have their own curriculum. The rules for parents who decide to homeschool will depend on the state.
Education does not mean spending years sitting in a classroom or going to college. Many of the greatest minds were self-taught. They read books. They found other people to learn from who challenged them or who shared similar interests.
Traditional School System
The role of the traditional education system is marketed as teaching children, teenagers, and young adults the basics they need to contribute to society. The problem is that America’s K-12 education system continues to see a decline in students’ ability to read, write, and learn basic arithmetic and science. American students are being dumbed down. The education system in its current form is not working. Reforming is not a solution since it has gotten worse over time.
Higher Education System
The higher education system is marketed to young adults as the solution to becoming successful in life. If they attend a traditional school of some type, students will likely have a conversation with their school’s career counselor during their junior or senior year of high school.
The career counselor’s job is to help young adults figure out their interests and direct them toward the appropriate degree for university study.
The high school sends its students to college. It is one part of the revolving door of the educational industrial complex.
Alternatives Forms Of Education
There are alternative ways to learn without going to college. Self-study is the most powerful way. Look up the books that are required in a specific field. Look them up online. Read them. Do you want to learn about philosophy, business, or history? Read a book. Watch videos. Read blogs. Consider investing in a digital course to dive deeper.
The best investment in myself has been purchasing digital courses from people with a proven track record in their field. The courses ranged from how to start a YouTube channel to how to build a successful online business. Those are topics that interested me. Thousands of classes are available on learning sites such as Udemy, Thinkific, and Masterclass.
Self-education is a vital skill that many self-made millionaires attribute to their success.
Determining The True Value Of An Education
Society presents the value of education as the degree or certificate that is earned upon graduation from an educational institution. It may be a high school diploma, a college degree, or a certificate from a certification course that an employer may require.
Self-teaching is a continual process. It never ends. Proper education should never end. That is the problem with
The actual value of an education is continual learning. It is a process that never ends until you die. Skills can be applied to advance in a career field or improve oneself.
Knowledge is not power. Knowledge must be applied. Only applied knowledge is power. The best knowledge is learned through self-teaching and real-world work, not sitting in a classroom for six hours daily.
The education system places a price on the education system. The graduate then receives a fancy degree. In reality, no price can be set on education if it is self-teaching.
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Summary
The real value of education is not in earning a degree. It is the process of learning through one’s life. The beauty of the Internet is it has made it easier and less expensive to become self-taught. The skills that one knows must then be applied to better oneself.
Views expressed in this article are the author’s opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of Secure Single. It is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is not investment or financial advice. James Bollen is the author of Thriving Solo: How to Flourish and Live Your Perfect Life (Without A Soulmate). Now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon. Subscribe to Secure Single’s Substack for free!
Education is important. The school season is preparing to start up again. Students are buying their textbooks, computers, and new notebooks for their classes. School, from high school to graduate school, has different groups. There are different groups at school and there is a pressure to date in school instead of focusing on education. School should be the priority for students at all education levels and the best choice is to remain single while in school.
Junior high and high school are when hormones start and the pressure to date begins. While all the popular kids are doing it, that doesn’t mean you should. It could affect your high school education and where you ultimately get accepted to for college. Those hours spent with a significant other are better spent studying and reading your class books instead of dating like jocks and cheerleaders. There is also the problem that if you date and have sex with someone in high school that you may end up staying in your town or city by marrying them or having a kid because you hooked up with the person you had a crush on. This will damage your income mobility and the opportunities to move to another city for college or a job. The wisest decision you can make in high school is to stay single and not to date or hook up with your crush.
College, depending on the school you attend, is a more heavily academic version of high school. There are still the cool kids, the partiers, and the nerds. There is still the emphasis within the student body that you should date and get with whoever the hot person of your class may be. It is best to avoid the drama at college and focus on your education. Depending on what your graduating degree is from college, you can land a nice job and work your way up to a plush position. The cost of living is continuing to rise in major cities making it even more important that you finish college and get a job at a good company. Your friends and classmates will wonder why you are not dating anyone, but keep your eyes on the larger goal of starting to have a financially stable future after college instead of getting distracted by relationships. Being single in college is also a great way to learn more about yourself, grow as an individual, and enjoy the freedom to explore your college town after you finish your studies. College is an important stage of life and has become an important factor in your financial future today. Stay single, enjoy the freedom and autonomy of the single life, and do well at college instead of getting distracted by relationships.
If you attending graduate school; a small number of your classmates will probably be married, but singles will most likely be the majority. This is because while going to graduate school and getting an advanced degree will further assist in your financial future, students are still paying off student loans. Debt is a financial problem. It affects your financial mobility debts must be paid before money goes into savings and other investments. The advanced degree will help to set you apart in interviews and help to raise your starting pay for the field that you are going into as a professional. Graduate school is primarily focused on the academics and there is less of the drama and pressure to date, but there will be classmates who are married or dating who may indirectly put pressure on you to get into a relationship. Keep your eyes on the goal, which is finishing graduate school with the best GPA that you can and getting to know your professors in order to land the best job quickly after graduation. The single life is the best way to achieve your dreams and to become successful while in school and after school.
School is a time to learn more about who you are as a person, discover your passions are, and to prepare for the next stage of life after school. Staying single in school is the best decision. Stay focused on your studies, whether you are in high school or getting your postgraduate degree. Being single is about enjoying the independence that the single life offers and that freedom will grow after finishing school.