The Importance of Self-education
By Daryl Dominic Tan

Are most of us really being educated? Or are we being indoctrinated? Why is it that the seemingly well intended act of acquiring knowledge has become more and more restricted to a certain standard these days. Why is it that most public school students are simply forced to memorize tidbits of information but not encouraged to ask how and why? Why is it that instead of encouraging curiosity, public school students are being inculcated with a ludicrous amount of harebrained respect for authority as well as being taught to rigidly obey and be content with the information they receive at all costs. Are we truly living in ‘The Misinformation Age’ as some may say?

What I think is that we are being molded into plastic robots and sheep of the system. Do we blame the teachers for this mess? Are teachers merely lazy tools? I don't think some are necessarily lazy as they do have good and honest intentions but I do find the word ‘tools’ very appropriate in most cases. These particular tools are restricted to teaching whatever this higher authority demands and subjugates them to teach. There are rules to follow, and unconventional or unorthodox methods of teaching are shunned for being deemed too radical.

It is something about this century we are living in that we have to abide by being politically correct all the time. Japan’s textbooks completely ignore the atrocities that their own government had committed during World War II. Defenders of the Japanese education system would blurt out something along the lines of national pride and that the youth of Japan shouldn't have any idea what happened back in Nanking. What about a better alternative such as admitting and acknowledging one’s faults? Maybe this could teach the Japanese youth a thing or two about humility.

As for France, their public school history textbooks have been revised in order to acquire a more politically correct agenda. How can anyone run away from his or her history? The past is significant; be it bad or good. We learn from our mistakes. Unfortunately though, the French are clearly losing their sense of identity along with the rest of the European Union. Modern French history textbooks choose to relegate Napoleon Bonaparte’s role (one of France’s most well known figures of all time) to lowly standards, while increasing the significance of Black slavery tremendously. National identity is definitely a major crisis in Europe right now, and it is only being exacerbated by its crumbling economic situation.

But the main question - what is Education really all about? Should government have the right to control something as delicate and fragile as education? Are we in control of our own minds or are we merely the property of a higher authority? I say we should educate ourselves from different angles and perspectives. Homeschooling is a wonderful alternative given the wider range of books, learning materials and sources to choose from. This way, we aren’t only exposed to one view. It is extremely important for us to expand our knowledge as vastly as possible if we want to gain any traction in moving forward as innovative and extraordinary individuals.

Don't forget that many of the world's most successful people are and were self-educated. Most notably Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, Julian Assange, Craig Ferguson, Ernest Hemingway, Leonardo Da Vinci, Herman Melville, Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino, and a whole lot more.

A word to everyone reading; Educate yourselves. As Mark Twain once said, don't let schooling get in the way of your education. Go to the library. Have an interest in history? Pick out a few books. An interest in Biology? Go right ahead. An interest in liberal arts? What are you waiting for? You can learn anything you want. The only one obstructing you from acquiring and achieving expansive knowledge is yourself. Don’t bow down to societal pressure. Don’t let society pass judgement on you. Strive as an individual. Do what you want, do what you will, and don’t let anyone dictate to you otherwise.

Remember, it matters not where you study; but what you study.