The main event. Taylor Wilson's perspective

why school is one of the few things society gets right

I feel as if the first major post of this blog sparked some serious talking points. The debate seems to have taken a turn toward talking about Eric more than organized education/schooling as a whole. I'll attempt to address the greater issue at hand as well as the specific anecdote that is Eric.

Firstly, it is my opinion that organized education quite simply works. When Eric looks at school, he sees a place where he has to multiply radicals, write analytical essays on books he feels are irrelevant to him, and talk about the differences between preterite/imperfect verb tenses. He says to himself, "I'd be much better off sleeping in, getting some breakfast and then doing a variety of activities that actually enhance my life and make me happy." But the truth is, at least how i see it, that Eric gained a solid basis for everything he knows from either school or his parents. If Eric had never stepped foot in a school, he would not have known how to positively interact with other human beings and solve problems. I think he may be forgetting some of the key principles he has learned in school or he doesn't credit school with giving him such knowledge.

Now, an arguing point to this could be that human beings are naturally inquisitive. From the very beginning of human kind, people asked themselves questions and were able to answer these after experimenting and testing things out for themselves. One could say they will do that on their own with or without school But the things we learn in school use these basic concepts in an organized fashion and ensure that every person gets an equal opporrtunity to progress. We NEED a system of organized schooling because of where modern day society puts us. It is true that there are entire cities in this country (my hometown of Atlanta's public schools for example) where schools seem to have very little affect on changing the specific society that they exist to help. The issue of inequality in schools, i think, is another issue. But the truth is that schools offer an excellent organized pathway to success. Can you potentially learn more outside of school than in it? Absolutely! But you can do whatever you want outside of school. The reasons that i hear from Eric as to his unwillingness to attend classes comes down to his lack of interest in the subject matter and his laziness at doing work he doesn't give a shit about. However, one MUST make sacrifices in order to be successful. The truth is that 99.9 % of people have to follow the society's guidelines in some shape or form. Society's guidelines state simply that if you don't have a HS diploma you are very very unlikely to succeed. Can you? maybe. But why try to get around such a simple path to success. Now this certainly does not apply to this country as a whole, as millions don't have proper health benefits and can't go to class because they have to work three jobs to support their siblings. But when you can go to New Canaan High School and know that if you at least go to class, you will have a much simpler path to success, you should take it. The only reason that I see for your not going to school is that you enjoy the lifestyle you have without it and feel like you learn more. You could continue your blacksmithing, engineering designs, and whatever else you want while also experiencing an education at high school. The only thing I can see is a combination of laziness(which I have my fair share of) and an intense anarchist view at society (which is not an entirely terrible thing, but when mishandled can lead to destruction and complete depression).

Eric, I applaud your going against the system. But that is only a good thing when it helps people. Leaving high school helps nobody including yourself, and I think you MAY regret it later. Unless you are one hundred percent certain of what you're going to do in life, school can also help you to figure that part out. Your passions can wait until you at least graduate high school. That way you have something to fall back on if needed. Not telling you what to do, because I think you're one of the brightest kids in our grade and could become one of the most successful. I just think going to school is such an important thing in one's life, even when you don't take a huge fascination in the specific subject matter covered....

-twil






I totally agree with everything Taylor said except when he tried to sneak in that bit about healthcare. (wait till next week Taylor, we will cover healthcare, i promise)