Education
“The true purpose of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives.”
- Mortimer Adler
Education: A Reflection
I recently corresponded with a friend from Texas who mentioned that their state legislature had proposed—and passed—a bill to remove critical thinking from the school curriculum.
This struck a chord, leading me to pull on the education thread.
Disclaimer: I am not an educator and can only imagine how difficult it can be.
British journalist, author, and satirist Malcolm Muggeridge once remarked, “We have educated ourselves into a state of imbecility.” His critique of modern education warned against fostering intellectual arrogance rather than wisdom. He saw this in society’s embrace of destructive ideologies and moral relativism. Knowledge without discernment leads to foolishness on a grand scale.
I sometimes wonder. What would a successful society look like? Are we all a cog in the capitalist machine? Have we let materialism define success? Does capitalism lack a balanced approach? Could educators play a crucial role in shaping the future? Are we valuing their contributions? While I may not be an expert on the education system, my personal experiences have given me insight. I’d say that teachers contribute more to the world than many professions. Many of them are overcompensated far beyond their societal value.
I won’t go into the details of my formal education, but when combined with a somewhat turbulent home life, let’s say it left its mark. I remember a grade nine teacher telling me I was too stupid to pursue my dream of studying architecture. It was a different generation, and my adoptive parents figured the teacher knew best, so they agreed. I believed them, and so I gave up on school.
When young people lose faith in their potential, they become vulnerable and seek validation elsewhere. This is a danger zone where many young people find themselves.
I recently came across a quote by Rabindranath Tagore that resonated with me. It sparked a curiosity that led me to explore more of his wisdom:
‘A teacher can never truly teach unless he is still learning himself. A lamp can never light another lamp unless it continues to burn its own flame.’
That image—a teacher as a continually burning lamp—has stayed with me ever since.
That quote brought me back to the fateful words of my grade nine teacher. It resonated because it was the opposite of what I had experienced.
Fortunately, I moved beyond the blame game. I took responsibility by recognizing that real education comes through experience. Heck, over three years, I enrolled in three different programs at the local college and quit each time. Taking ownership of one’s learning means being proactive. I’ve learned that while self-reliance is valuable, we don’t have to face challenges alone. Seeking mentorship or guidance is wise, but I didn’t follow that path. I have learned through my failures, and they have, in many ways, been my greatest teachers.
Rabindranath Tagore, a Bengali polymath, is best known as a poet. However, he was also a painter, musician, philosopher, and educator. A Nobel Laureate and Renaissance man, he left an indelible mark on the cultural and intellectual landscape of India and the world.
Tagore was a profound thinker who saw education as more than the mere transfer of information. He believed in experiential learning, creativity, and a deep connection to nature over memorization. His philosophy emphasized curiosity, exploration, and a holistic understanding of the world. Tagore deeply cared about the international political situation of his day and spoke out for the unity of humanity in an age of nationalism.
“The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence.” — Rabindranath Tagore.
What if we, as a society, saw educators and teachers as the architects of our shared future? Imagine how richer our world could become when parents and education work together to nurture curiosity, creativity, and harmony. Education has the power to empower—to kindle the flame of potential within every student and help it shine brightly.
But what if we reimagined education not as a machine, but as a space—an architectural masterpiece that holds both structure and openness? Walls that offer safety but not confinement. Windows that let in the light of curiosity. Doorways that open into new questions. In that kind of space, education becomes a living architecture—one that honors freedom, nurtures growth, and encourages students not just to follow, but to imagine.
Because true learning isn’t about what’s compulsory or forbidden. It’s about what’s possible.
In architectural terms, then critical thinking could become the keystone that holds the arch of learning in place.
“The beautiful thing about learning is that nobody can take it away from you.” – B.B. King
