[thumpsky]

Originally Posted by HarveyJ

So who else has been listening to Pink Ffloyd while going through this thread?

the dance mix

YouTube - Eric Prydz vs Floyd - Proper Education

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Originally Posted by thumpsky

Not to be racist, but I found this to be a reality for many of my Korean and Chinese classmates. Perhaps it was the culture they came from, but I remember even back in high school how some of my Asian friends would tell me how their parents were so enamored with the institution of school that they had to be single-minded about that pursuit at the expense of everything else. That meant no after-school sports or jobs. All their precious energy would be put into after-school calculus class or something like that. I've been told that in Korea they even do IQ tests for 4 years olds where the 'smartest' ones get placement in the top pre-schools, and from there, hopefully a prestigious kindergarten.

And so from a very young age, that society (and our too, but perhaps to a lesser degree), is inculcated by the idea of school being the index for human worth. This reminds me of the movie Gattaca.

YouTube - The departure michael nyman

The difference between the education system here and that in other countries explains this.

In many other countries, how you score on a final exam (and I don't mean like a class final here, but an ACT-type exam) determines whether you go on to the next level of school, and if so, where you go. Moreover, the level of education and school attended really determine what job you will have, much more so than in the U.S. It is not like here where the rich can afford to buy their children's way into college and athletes who can't read at a high school level get into the top schools, and where our capitalistic society allows those with little to no formal education to realize success. How you score on those exams determines your life, unlike here. That is why there is so much attention to school; it is a different cultural structure than here.

While you clearly believe that this is wrong, consider the many social problems that exist in the U.S. to a much larger extent than in other nations. Just food for thought.

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Originally Posted by thumpsky

that's my paradigm: action vs education...

action = my neighbour's 3 year old daughter along with her 5 year old cousin setting up a lemonade stand near the soccer field on a hot day and people buying drinks and taking pictures because it's "cute".

vs.

education = a 22 year old student who's never worked a day in his life, sitting through a mindless power point presentation in Organizational Behavior Class where the prof tells him that standing in front of someone while they are giving a presentation is known in the business world as "collateral interception".

I'm wondering what paradigm you're talking about here, or even how it relates to the discussion. A paradigm is something that serves as a pattern or model.

Do you mean "paradox" maybe? If so, that might make a bit more sense, but I still don't see a paradox. What statement are you making or referring to that is a paradox?

[thumpsky]

Originally Posted by jmenq2

I'm wondering what paradigm you're talking about here, or even how it relates to the discussion. A paradigm is something that serves as a pattern or model.

Do you mean "paradox" maybe? If so, that might make a bit more sense, but I still don't see a paradox. What statement are you making or referring to that is a paradox?

Paradigm can also mean way of thinking.

IMO, "education" in the institutional passive sense and action are antagonistic to each other.

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Originally Posted by thumpsky

Paradigm can also mean way of thinking.

IMO, "education" in the institutional passive sense and action are antagonistic to each other.

OK. Well, might it be that the education part of it is preparing one for action? Teaching the student how to put one foot in front of the other so that he can walk?

[thumpsky]

Originally Posted by jmenq2

OK. Well, might it be that the education part of it is preparing one for action? Teaching the student how to put one foot in front of the other so that he can walk?

No, it's more like a crutch. Even Marco Pierre White (Gordon Ramsay's mentor) said culinary schools were the biggest waste of time and gave people a false sense of security.

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What do you mean a crutch? I'm confused as to what exactly you're saying. That one who goes to college will be a less effective entrepreneur than one who avoids college because the college process more or less beats the entrepreneurship out of the individual? The posts have just been so all over the place that I'm trying to draw it all into a conclusion, you know?

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I think the Donald sums it all up pretty well:

"I talk a lot about education because I think a good college education can really take you far in life. At the same time, however, some people are incredibly book smart but are clueless when they deal with the real world. Others are street smart but can’t handle anything other than what they’re accustomed to.

A couple seasons ago, we based an entire season of The Apprentice on this premise, pitting highly educated candidates against those with less formal schooling. In the end, we discovered that the key to success was experience, not education. Experience comes from action - or doing - and involves taking risks.

Knowledge is essential, but knowledge alone certainly isn’t enough. You must be able to act on your knowledge. You must put it to work because doing is how you learn and how you ultimately prove yourself.

I’ve certainly taken a lot of risks and not all of them were rousing successes. Few things worth doing are risk-free, so prepare to take chances. Don’t always play it safe, but do try to minimize danger and be aware of what you could lose. Often, the risk will be worth the gamble, but sometimes it’ll be more than you can afford.

Don’t underestimate anything until you try it. You need hands-on involvement to understand anything - whether a task or an entire business operation - to know the problems you’ll face. You have to gain experience, and that only comes from actually doing - and doing often.
"

[Ahern & Brucker]

Originally Posted by jmenq2

It's entirely different now, but not any easier.

Well I don't know about not being easier... For me it seems to be... I wish I knew more because I know I could do more but am limited to my abilities but still, 99% of our business is internet sales, we've made sales in all sorts of countries we would have never had access to (i'm not talking about trinkets but pretty serious jewelry and their owners).

We owe our lifestyle and level of comfort to this new age which surely we could not have otherwise experienced ... As for competition, that's not an issue for us because we are a dying breed... dinosaurs with a growing demand for our services and product.

Of course, the internet has desimated a lot of long established businesses... opened up information that was once privy to those who profited from maintaining that info. big guys lose, little guy wins. (starting to turn in that direction)

Never in my life would I think tiffany customers would spend their money with us and have a good reason to do so! Chalk one up for the little guys!!!

So, you may not think this generation has it easier but have this same conversation in another 30 yers after you have to experience what you will go through in 30 years and let's see if your answer is the same.

and I hope you all are saving your money for spending it in these upcoming hard times.

[bostonbrian]

Well, I've been in school for the past 19 years. I do have to say that I have had many jobs, responsibilities, and activities along the way, but neither the degree nor the awards make me who I am. What makes me who I am is the PROCESS!! You need to have goals in order to maintain focus and motivation to attain them. While in school the degree is a goal that helps you stay focused while attaining that knowledge; however, the path that you take to achieve that is up to you. I may be more biased because I feel my life has been a great balance of experiential and academic work that has made me who I am and what I believe and live for today, but to know WHAT you want to do, you NEED to have some kind of experience or mentor or someone you love that prompts you to take a certain direction.

Anyways, I could probably write a sermon on this, but I'll Plug Northeastern University's website - About Northeastern

"The Northeastern Difference

We integrate rigorous classroom studies with experiential learning opportunities—anchored by the nation's largest, most innovative cooperative education programs—to prepare students for a lifetime of achievement. We pursue applied research with an interdisciplinary focus to develop solutions to real-world problems. We are a leader in engaging our urban community to advance economic and social vitality in our region and our world."

I've only been a student at NU for the past 2.5 years, so by no means the bulk of my education, but working towards my Ph.D. in Chemistry has been perhaps the most rewarding experience in terms of learning the intricate details of my field, so that I may BECOME the expert in my particular area of Materials/Physical Chemistry but more specifically in Energy Research with applications in Batteries and Fuel Cells. While I have been on campus I have taken an elective course in Technology Entrepreneurship and have found that I am really driven to working with companies to take their ideas and get them to market for the greater good of everyone that uses energy... hence EVERYONE!

Anywho, someone else can take the podium now...

Cheers,
Brian