So Who's the Real Smarty?
November 12, 2004
10:32 a.m., MT
Music: Dick Gaughan: What You Do with What You've Got
I don't know whether I'm paying more attention these days, or whether there are more of these folks around me now ... but I'm discovering more and more school dropouts among my friends. Interestingly, some aren't shy about telling me that, while others seem embarrassed, or perhaps concerned that I'll think less of them now that I "know" they're less "educated" than me.


What many of them might be surprised at is that my respect increases upon learning he or she has dropped out. It's fairly easy to drop out now, with public schools increasingly resembling the state-run prisons that they've always been, but that wasn't the case years ago when these friends did it. The social stigma of being a dropout was greater (not to say that it doesn't exist now; I'm getting a taste of that at present via two of my stepsons); alternatives to a high school diploma were fewer, and less accepted.

But weathering all that is a small part of why I admire these individuals. They recognized that the youth indoctrination camps weren't working for them, and got the hell out. That action freed them to choose a course that was more suitable to their interests and goals.

So who's smarter: me with the PhD, who jumped through all the hoops placed before me like a nicely-trained seal (and who still has a hard time resisting the urge to docilely jump in some situations), and hasn't really used the degree to any advantage since? (I taught for several years in an adjunct faculty capacity, because I couldn't stomach the tenure-track, publish-or-perish bullshit environment that seems to pervade college campuses in this country, but have not done any academic work in almost a decade.) Or these individuals, who have taken their lives and futures in hand earlier than me, who skipped the usual recommended dose of pigeonholing and mind-control (whereas I said, "Thank you; may I have more?")? I'd say there's no contest here.

To educate, according to the etymology in my dictionary, is "to draw or bring forth". That's pretty much exactly the opposite of what goes on in most schools these days (private or public; that distinction is rapidly fading except at a few independent-minded private schools I'm aware of). Teachers try to cram facts and opinions and values into kids' heads, in large part to be regurgitated on standardized tests that have become the gateways to government largesse under No Child Left Behind. I watched my brother struggle through a basic ed curriculum, when he should have been (at worst) in a vocational ed program, or even better, set loose to explore his interests in things mechanical and electrical. He certainly wasn't stupid -- he just wasn't interested in history or social studies or literature.

One of the lines from the song that I referenced below the title of this entry goes, "It's not just what you're born with, it's what you choose to be". The formal educational system in the U.S. increasingly doesn't "allow" individuals to choose; it pushes individuals, at ever-younger ages, into "vocational tracks" and "career paths" and resists a person's attempts to break out of them. Although I was still a silly statist when my brother was in high school, I recognized that it wasn't working for him. Today, I see the amazing skills some of my dropout friends have and I celebrate their choices to educate themselves -- to bring forth and nurture elements of themselves that they value.

And -- perhaps proving that I am educable after all those years in public schools -- I have embraced that path for educating my children. Largely unschooled (we have focused some effort into learning to read), they regularly impress me with how much they have learned, and how early. The diversity of their interests is inspiring. Two of my dearest dropout friends -- one with poetry in his soul, the other a keen observer of humans and nature -- offer regular validation that this course is the best one for my children. Thank you.

[Musical aside: if you like folk/acoustic music, I highly recommend the Scotsman Dick Gaughan. In addition to the song mentioned, the album it's on -- Outlaws and Dreamers -- contains other great tracks for liberty-minded individuals. The links are to Amazon pages, but are just for your convenience -- I won't get any cash from any sales through them. You can hear samples there too, of course.]

Sunni

Replies: 3 individuals have opined

On Friday, November 12th, Sunni said:

Excellent point, Lobo; I slither corrected.

On Friday, November 12th, DLT said:

Oops, forgot to add me second to Sunni's Kudos: huray for intrepid individuals!!!



L

On Friday, November 12th, DLT said:

I'd say we should not let the oposition determine the terminology. I think of such people as having "risen above" school, instead of "dropping out."

L