by James Wallace Harris
Is grazing on knowledge the same as an education?
I regularly read nonfiction books, watch news shows and documentaries, and read informative magazines, but is that getting an education? What exactly is an education?
When we are young, we go to school. We have the goal of graduating high school. A high school degree claims to give everyone a well-rounded basic education. After that we can seek a college degree because we’re told it will raise our status in society. Then we’re enticed to take graduate degrees with promises of better jobs and prestige. And for those people who didn’t go to college, earning technical certificates tempts us with more money and better job titles.
Education was related to specific goals. Is it the goal that defines an education? Let’s say you play chess. Is studying chess to beat your friends an education? What about studying chess to become a Grand Master? I think there must be a difference between learning and getting an education.
Next month with be my tenth anniversary of retiring from work. Before I retired, I thought I would have goals for my life after work. It hasn’t worked out that way. It’s been one long downward slide into inactivity. Having to go to school, college, and then work, imposed goals on me. Susan and I have minimum demands on us – stay healthy, don’t get sick, keep up the house, pay the bills, and take care of each other. It’s all about maintaining, there’s no planning for the future.
Before I retired, I thought I’d get a master’s degree in computer science, or some other subject in my free time. But after I retired, going back to school seemed pointless. Do we only go to school to get a job?
Why do I need an education if I’m not going to use it in some way? We talk about life-long learning, but is that the same as an education? I’m learning new things every day, but I don’t think that’s an education.
Because I love reading books written by English authors, I could make that into a goal of getting a master’s degree in English literature. The Wizard of Oz gave the Scarecrow a diploma to prove he had brains. Would that be meaningful to me now that I’m old?
Chess players use various rating systems to rank themselves. It’s mainly used for arranging matches in competitions, but it allows players to judge the depth of their knowledge.
I like to think I know a little bit about English literature, but I have no idea how much I know. What if there were standardized tests that measured knowledge of English literature and ranked the test takers, would that be meaningful stimulus to get better educated? Would learning to compete in rankings be an education?
Most people think of themselves as knowledgeable about their favorite subjects and hobbies. What if there was a way to rank that knowledge? Earning a living is the incentive for most people to go to school. Could competition be another incentive to seek an education? What if there were more than just Pub Trivia contests to prove our knowledge in old age?
I’ve thought about studying math in my old age to see how much I’m capable of still learning. I got on the Khan Academy right after I retired and discovered I had forgotten nearly all the math I had taken in school and college. I had to start over with grade school mathematics. I gave up while still taking lessons at the fifth-grade level. I gave up because I didn’t feel like I needed what I was learning. However, I’ve been wondering lately if I could get further just to prove I was still able to learn at 71. Is that another incentive to get an education late in life?
There are subjects that I should study in old age. Things like how to use the healthcare system, where to invest my retirement savings, household maintenance for future climate change, how to live with failing bodies, or financially planning for death. Most of us just fumble our way through these things. What if there were degrees to earn in these topics, or ranking systems to measure our progress?
It seems to be an education is some kind of validated learning for a purpose. Since so many of us are getting old, maybe society needs to develop educational systems for the last third of life.
JWH
Auxiliary Memory 
I see there is formal education through the various systems, and then there is the informal education of living. When we are younger, someone who has done well despite limited formal education is admired. Then there are those who seem to always been in the education system and struggle with making ends meet. For myself, I have always loved learning but now that I am also retired, I feel I have freedom to continue learn by doing whatever, whenever. For myself, I do not need another formal system and frankly, would not want this chapter in my life regimented. But I understand everyone is different, so it really all depends on the individual.
I am not very disciplined. I learn on my own, but it’s very scattered. I’m only disciplined when I’m forced. I sometimes think I need more structure in my life.
We are all different and need to find what we really want to do.
Yes, and I’m enjoying learning about other people’s approaches.
Thanks for another well framed and pertinent post. My circumstances are similar to yours. I’m 73, retired from programming a couple of years ago. People ask me what I’m doing. Well, I’m not doing much.
IMO an under appreciated character in science fiction is Kip’s father in “Have Space Suit Will Travel”. He was an apparently brilliant physicist who now spends his time reading “Three Men in a Boat”.
I have tried reading “Three Men in a Boat” but I couldn’t get into it. And ever since I read some of Isaac Asimov’s Multivac stories when I was about ten, I haven’t wanted to be anything except a programmer. I could definitely go for “educational systems for the last third of life”.
I worked through this: https://www.thelittlelearner.com/. And I’m currently working through this: https://lpfp.io/.
You are doing what I fantasized about doing in retirement before I retired. I wanted to learn Python and go back to school and work on a CS MS. I bought a bunch of Python books but never stuck with them. Have Space Suit–Will Travel is my favorite SF novel. and I remember Kip’s dad always reading and quoting Jerome K. Jerome.
I also tried reading Three Men in a Boat but didn’t get into it. However, I did love To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis which was inspired by Three Men in a Boat. Have Space Suit–Will Travel is one of Connie Willis’ favorite books too.
I looked at The Little Learner but it’s way over my head.
After a lifetime of loving learning (once I got over the trauma of high school), I’ve spent the last 10+ years in conscious and concentrate self-education – through, yes, Khan Academy, reading/blogging, moocs, OCWs, and most recently, online reading groups. If you’d like resources, let me know. But you do need to find your own way, set your own goals – and be willing to change those goals, rather than give up, if necessary.
One book that gave me some recent guidance – that it’s ok that I’m obsessed with learning new things, that a practical end isn’t necessary, that learning is valuable in and of itself – is Zena Hitz, “Lost in Thought.” Bertrand Russell’s essay “In Praise of Idleness” was helpful as well.
Lost in Thought sounds appealing, and since it’s a free audiobook on Audible, I added it to my library. I also downloaded a copy of “In Praise of Idleness.” Thanks.
Well, there is the famous example of Cato the Elder learning Greek when he was 80.
Now that’s impressive.
This post is certainly food for thought James. After a lifetime of IT and systems analysis, in the end I wished I’d had a degree in psychology to better understand the system users. Upon retirement, hubby and I bought a caravan and hit the back roads of Australia and what a surprise it has been. As a person with a thirst for knowledge I or should I say, we, both have learnt more than ever before. For instance, Weather patterns and climate mean that we’ll need to quickly drive 300 kms north west to avoid the approaching low. Caravanners hate rain. And when it comes to climate change my diary of the last 11 years shows that it is a reality. Geography and geology, not only have we crossed and wandered along state borders we now know why they are where they are and could suggest where they should be in terms of climate, vegetation, and population. Geology, well you can’t drive all day towards a range without wondering what it’s made of and how it got there and every unusual rock seems to end up at home in my rock garden. We’ve panned for gold, fossicked for opals and seen copper and silver down mines. I could go on for pages about the things and the people that have amazed us and how if I had my time again I’d get into agricultural computer science. But one thing is for certain and that is that we have learnt so, so much. And somewhere in the middle of all this I switched to ‘the other side’ and started dabbling in art and realised that I’d need another whole lifetime to truly understand it. But, it has helped me to see and feel more. And in that James I think you’ve given me a future blog topic. I thank you.
You certainly have an adventurous retirement. Your travels remind me of the America West, but weirdly different. I used to fantasize about RV traveling out west. But I can’t handle travel no more. I do all my roaming via YouTube videos — how easy it’s become to live a vicarious lifestyle.
I suggest you learn a foreign language by immersion, through living in a country that speaks a language you don’t, taking lessons and gradually learn the language you hear spoken all around you. The goal would be to integrate into the language culture your interests in. It’s a lot easier learning a language this way, contains the goal you need to motivate with, plus you get to travel for 6mos or a year. Bonus: you’ll better appreciate your home when you get back!
Kudos! Never stop learning my friend!