I recently saw an interesting interview with one of my favorite music artist , Tupac Shakur, when he was 17 years old. The interviewer asked him a question about how he felt about education and I found his answer to be really interesting. Just to give you a glimpse of what he said..
This interview is what I call, "things that make you go hmmm?" In many ways, I completely agree with what he said. Why is learning how to play volleyball more important than classes on politics and the economy? Why is it that as a 18 year old young woman in college, I know how to find the surface area of a sphere but do not know how file taxes or fill out a FAFSA form?
Thinking about this, I decided to start a poll on Facebook and Twitter (I know… such a millennial). For my poll, I asked the question, “Did your education (high school, college) prepare you for adulthood responsibilities (primarily speaking of bills, taxes, understanding the economy and politics)?” A total of 68 people, of all ages, backgrounds, and ethnicities, participated in my poll and here were the results:
Twitter:
Facebook (in form of a bar graph):
Based on the data collected, most people believe that their education did not properly prepare them for adulthood. Similar to Tupac, many believed that school repeated pointless information that is not necessarily needed in everyday life. Primarily classes like Geometry or Gym.
My question then becomes, if after attending school from ages of 5 to 18 (13 years) and then (if applicable to you) attending a college or university for 4 or more years to complete various degrees in higher education, why do most people not feel prepared for adulthood? And what truly is the purpose of education if most people are not prepared for adulthood?
Once again, things that make you go hmmm?”
Although those who said “No” may raise great points, it would be unfair to not look at the other side of this. If you look at the data above, many people believe that education “somewhat” prepared them for adulthood and some even felt completely prepared for adulthood, as they responded “Yes.”
Many of those who took my poll believe their education gave them the basic tools and principles that guide you and help you earn for yourself later in life. While some even believe that classes like business economics or maybe even a United States History class prepared them properly to navigate their way through adulthood and understand politics and the economy.
After considering this, I also agree. As a daughter of an educator, education has played a major role in my life. I have been truly blessed to go to great schools with great teachers that have prepared and taught me well. I know that I am able to speak properly and write a good resume because of Mrs. Kampert’s leadership class. I have gained great writing skills because of teachers like Mrs. Berrieum and Ms. Graves. If it were not for teachers like Ms. Churay or Mrs. McKinstry, I would not understand the basics of politics and how our government somewhat works. Furthermore, I counselors like Ms. Raineri and Mrs. B educated me, as well as my peers, on financial aid and how the college admissions process works.
When I think about it, I may not know how to file a tax, but I knew there was a such thing as taxes. And although I may not understand politics completely, I understand how it supposed to be set up (based on the different branches within government).
And to be completely honest, I am learning more and more everyday that life is not easy and you will not always have someone holding your hand through everything. Just look at the reasons why we take test or exams in school. The purpose is to test the knowledge given by teachers so they know we are capable of applying it; thus, teaching us to fully understand it. Its very rare that a teacher gives you the answers to the test that you are going to take because you should be able to apply what you've learned and figure it out.
Maybe that is the real purpose of education; to give us the basics so later we can apply and learn as we go. And in many ways, that is somewhat preparing us for our future as adults because in life you have to learn as you go . As Malcolm X once said, “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
Yet again, things that make you say hmmm?
Either way, I believe there are things that could be better within the education system and what is taught in classrooms. However, I do think education serves a purpose in our lives to gives us the basics and teach us to apply as we choose.
What do you think?
