This is a bit of a short one, but I feel like I have to make mention of it.
I was writing another piece that touches on a bunch of different topics, one of which is what I called “the pursuit of knowledge”. Now, I would generally call that education, but I didn’t want to give the impression that I was advocating for institutionalized education in a school. I mean the broadest and most literal sense of education, which is to educate yourself.
This got me thinking about how I really think the word “education” was highjacked by institutions and has forced it to take a whole other meaning in society than what it was initially intended for. To be clear, I don’t think that’s at the fault of these institutions, but I really just think it’s unfortunate that such a perfect word to summarize the wordy “pursuit of knowledge” has become so associated with this system.
If you ask people on the street what it means to be “educated”, I am pretty sure each and every person will say they went to some form of post-secondary school.
Maybe that’s why the greats referred to “the pursuit of knowledge” as “studying”.
Regardless, stay educated!