The temptation is strong. It is right after lunch, your stomach is full and your bed is calling. However, it is also 10 minutes until your next class, and it would be beneficial for you to attend. You consider your possibilities, weigh the pros and cons, and before you know it, you’re under your covers and oblivious to any thoughts of school.
So many times, we all make decisions that subvert our academic pursuits and instead satisfy some other desire. After all, it’s only school. And what is school but a rather bothersome interference with our social lives?
I realize most of you are probably rolling your eyes by now. We all know that school is the reason we are here, grades are important and going to class should be a priority. These are all true statements; however, they are not the crux of the point I wish to make in this article.
According to a 2000 poll on www.nationmaster.com, 61 percent of American students find school boring. When is the last time you can remember getting excited about learning something new?
In the past, education was a highly valuable commodity. In both the ancient Greek and Hebrew societies, students pursued education passionately. Those who were the most knowledgeable would eventually be rigorously tested by the greatest teachers of the day. It took true dedication to gain all the skills needed to pass these tests. No one forced these pupils to learn anything; instead, they sought knowledge. They cultivated their own thirst for it.
In the more recent past in Europe, education was still highly valued. In fact, it was considered a privilege. Only the wealthy could afford for their children to attend school or be tutored. In those days, education equaled power, and it was not available to everyone.
Why has our attitude toward learning changed today? In the United States, we have a public education system that anyone can take part in. There are abundant colleges and universities offering courses of study in every discipline imaginable. We have a plethora of opportunities before us, and yet we consider school an inconvenience most of the time. Most of us are lackadaisical learners, choosing not to invest in our education, and therefore not receiving its full benefit.
Even in today’s world, everyone does not have the same educational availabilities as we do. In Japan, the education system is highly competitive. Most high schools and universities have tough entrance exams. According to a 1998 case study done on Japan’s educational system, “The outlines of students’ future academic and economic prospects are largely pre-determined by the high school they enter.” Where one attends high school often determines what one’s later course in life will be; therefore, performing well on these entrance exams is crucial.
Japanese students spend hours outside of their regular classes attending cram schools, which are preparatory for entrance exams. However, most Japanese students do not detest school. According to the same case study, “Rather than seeing school as in imposition, most students saw it as resource in their attempts to succeed in future academic competition and as a place to expand and deepen their social network.”
The same study that showed 61 percent of American students find school boring found that only 32 percent of Japanese students feel this way. That means that the majority of Japanese students are actually interested in their learning. They believe it has a purpose. And so should we.
Showing up to class when you want and only learning what you think will be on the test does not result in a good education. We need to be intentional learners, seeking knowledge and utilizing it. You cannot just wait for an education to fall into your lap.
Authors Craig Dunham and Doug Serven write in “TwentySomeone” that “when it comes to any kind of learning, the burden of responsibility rests squarely on our shoulders.” Realize that knowledge is a valuable and desirable commodity. Pursue it intentionally. You might be surprised what you do actually learn when you really want to.