We likened education to an arrow shot from eternity; the arrow that continued on paper traveled much further. It transcended the limitations of the physical world through writing and accomplished a miracle. Its acceleration and height increased even more. However, something impossible in the physical world began to happen: the arrow also started to be drawn backward. There were arrows that turned their backs on reality. As living organisms, our bodies renewed themselves every day, yet the renewal of our thoughts was feared. The world kept turning, but we started believing that our thoughts remained fixed. Stability was easier; unchanging ideas seemed more controllable, perhaps.
We became so accustomed to simplistic explanations that education came to mean either memorizing some dysfunctional texts or merely obeying instructions. This simplification severed its connection with reality because, from the very beginning, it ignored individual differences, different types of intelligence, and the need for diverse kinds of people. Education, which failed in real life, worsened further due to the state’s rigid, cumbersome, and overpowering nature. Just like small children, states and societies made no reforms for society’s most vulnerable members and failed to offer a structured path forward.
Education, which is a complete tragedy for the individual, is a comedy for institutions. The individual is vulnerable, while institutions are absurd. A neutral, unbiased education is, unfortunately, only possible through self-education. With the individual efforts of educators, this tragicomedy can be alleviated to some extent. Engaging with knowledge should become a hobby, and conceptual discussions and deliberation should turn into habits.
There are two fields of study that point to daily life and the meaning of existence. Yet, ironically, they are considered “useless subjects.” Music and physical education have been disregarded due to the incompetence of the education system. Meanwhile, the remaining subjects continue as if they were important and essential. However, in a democracy, politics should be taught first because the state itself consists of its citizens. In an ethical education system, economics should be taught before sending children into the traps of the economy. How much can we trust an education system that does not teach basic etiquette, life-saving health knowledge, or how to defend oneself in a legal case?
The arrow of education, shot from eternity, may be a weapon, but it is necessary for our struggle with nature. Even bad education, in any form, is compulsory. The branch of humanity open to education and programming has survived. If we do not fill minds with meaningful content, billions of people will fill themselves with primal instincts.
Everyone must take their education into their own hands. With just a few simple precautions, we can survive the education system—meaning we can continue our lives as rational, well-rounded individuals. Just like our bodies, our concepts, ideas, and words age over time. We must not fall for fixed and simplistic explanations. If we leave things open to debate—if we can utter the simple phrase “I don’t know”—we will have taken one of the best precautions against dogmatic thinking in education. The next step is to make learning and knowledge a lifelong pursuit. Since both are infinite goals, it is clear that our lives will be an eternal journey of learning.
