<p>I think this is a pretty good list and I think one should consider all these aspects of education when selecting a college.</p>
<p>be lifelong learners
be passionate
be ready to take risks
be able to problem-solve and think critically
be able to look at things differently
be able to work independently and with others
be creative
care and want to give back to their community
persevere
have integrity and self-respect
have moral courage
be able to use the world around them well
speak well, write well, read well, and work well with numbers
truly enjoy their life and their work.</p>
<p>Those are all great things. For argument’s sake, they can all be acquired without a “formal” education. And in turn, there are many who have attended the top colleges who have missed these skills despite the opportunities being present and the environment conducive.</p>
<p>For my money, the goal of college attendance is to increase earning potential and or learn their specialty. Obviously I don’t want a brain surgeon that has not been properly educated. Hopefully, the skills listed above are ones that are fostered by whatever environment one finds him/herself in, and also by each individual’s desire to improve as a person.</p>
<p>-Critical thinking and a higher level of absorbed info one can retrieve and apply.<br>
-A higher ability to set and achieve (higher) goals. </p>
<p>Agree one doesn’t need a diploma to achieve this. But: how do you determine all this when selecting a college? It’s about the individual. Some are empowered by a challenging school, where the bar is higher, peers are competitive. Others through being big fish in a little pond.</p>
<p>I think one thing to consider are the types of academic and social opportunities available for students. Another thing to consider is your students learning style and what environment he would do best in.</p>
<p>I agree with cromette.
All of the items are important life lessons, but are not really what I’d call a college goal for my S.
I have to assume the Op is referring to college education given the name of this website.</p>
<p>I got the impression it was education in a general sense - many of those things my kids learned in high school (or younger). I am not sure my S will ever want to give back to his community though, which makes me sad. He has done required community service, but I don’t see much voluntary service.</p>
<p>“Giving back to the community” need not be an explicitly charitable act. Suppose you design and market a new product or service that happens to be something extremely valuable and affordable to poor people and makes a significant improvement in their lives (perhaps replacing something that would otherwise be more of a financial burden on them), even if your company is not a non-profit charity. Is that not “giving back to the community”?</p>
<p>I guess you could see all those things as a side effect of getting job training, but I see the career advance possibilities as a side effect of improving one’s critical thinking and broad knowledge.</p>
<p>I see all of those things as a side effect of LIVING with your eyes, mind and heart open, not necessarily as a side effect of job training, specifically.</p>
<p>Wow. I just read the article. It’s nice if you have a school that provides an environment conducive to these things. </p>
<p>I would like for my children to LEARN English, Grammar, Literature, Math, Foreign Language, Science, Social Studies, Geography, History, Logic, Fine Arts, etc.</p>
<p>That is the purpose of education to me. Sorry, it’s a nice fluffy feeling to say that the above are the purpose of “education” (read schooling). I just whole-heartedly disagree. The above are primarily the purpose of parenting, and are hopefully reinforced at school by providing a place where the kid can practice and perfect these skills.</p>
<p>Well, the reason why we as taxpayers fund public education is because education makes people more productive in society and thus increasing tax revenue and the quality of life for people in the country. So… That. The goal of education should be to increase productivity of the population.</p>
<p>Not only is this a list that could only have been compiled by very privileged people, it also includes some things that one could reasonably disagree with. </p>
<p>Why do educated individuals need to be “ready to take risks,” for example? I mean, it’s nice that some people are this way, but I think it’s also a good thing that some are not. </p>
<p>Is it always best to “persevere”? Or is it sometimes better to cut your losses? </p>
<p>And must you “care and want” to give back to your community? Or is it enough to just do it? (I don’t like being told how I’m supposed to feel.)</p>
<p>Riprorin, of course a large part of parenting is education. Some would argue that your kids are ALWAYS learning from your interaction with them. The article seems to be talking about “schooling”. Of course we’re all individuals, not drones. Hopefully, no matter what the environment, we each grow on a personal level.</p>
<p>I don’t think all these are necessary for everyone in society. A lot of people just need to learn to be on time and follow instructions at work, and capable of independent and satisfying personal lives.</p>
<p>Each time someone says “education” is to get a job, I wonder why college, instead of trade school or some specific job training. In many of the jobs I had, there was always a segment doing important work without a college degree. </p>
<p>If the only purpose were a job, think of how many extra classes you could avoid.</p>