Why is school perceived ad the be-all-end-all to education?

Answer 1

I don't think it's viewed as the end-all-be-all, but it does help when it comes to spelling things correctly.

Answer 2

I think it comes down to what people value. Schooling *generally* leads to better, more-welling paying jobs. Grades are an objective measure of where someone stands. It is also a status symbol. There are three reasons that have really nothing to do with a) learning b) true intellect and c) original and creative thought. Einstein was not Einstein because he got all the questions correct on a multiple choice test.

I think the problem is most people see school as an ends to a means; they don't see learning as an end in itself. Some of the smartest, most original, and most well-informed people I know do not have a college degree.

I don't know if I really answered your question, though.

Answer 3

I'm not sure it's perceived that way by people who are truly educated; however, socially-speaking, schooling is rigidly enforced as something the masses require to function in the world. Realistically, school is often the last place in which people become educated...schooling, as in the public school system, is used to enforce societal norms and to produce "cookie cutter" people. We wouldn't want anyone thinking too far outside the box, now would we? For instance, my daughter failed colouring in kindergarten because she coloured the faces all different colours, put dots on their foreheads, and so on. To me, that's creative: to them, it's "wrong." Post-secondary education is not only pushed, it's almost impossible to become employed without it. And why is this? Because of money. What it all comes down to is money--becoming educated is expensive, and it certainly helps society that everyone is buying "the right kind" of education. I teach College level students, and most of them should not be there, but they are because they can afford it, and because they know they will not get employment without those letters behind their names. And they're not wrong. Higher education used to be for the intellectual elite, not the financially elite. Things have certainly changed.

Answer 4

I agree. When I was in law school, the ones with the most book learning were the ones with the least common sense. We need to find a way to instill common sense in people, and teach them to think, not just parrot back what they've been taught.

Actually, what would be wonderful would be to have a second turn at education. Once you've been out in the world for a while, and find things you're really interested in, everyone should have a chance to go back (or to) college to learn about the things you want to know more about.

Answer 5

Perhaps because parent's want to outsource the impossible - teaching and nurturing their children. School (I'm taking this to mean K-12) is an integral element of a child's learning. But it is by no means the most important element. Most of the lasting lessons of my childhood were learned in the kitchen of our modest home or in the front seat of my dad's red Ford pickup.
The village cannot educate a child. The Parent must decide that its worth their time to do it. School should help prepare a child for a career and to be cultured, but their character - the most important element of the individual - is formed outside of school, and mainly at home.
I hope we don't become a nation of McCharacters - i.e., children raised by daycare. Somethings cannot be outsourced.
Thus, in answer to your question, school if overempasized because mass society overlooks the importance of character and of parents.

Answer 6

It's not... there's job training and plenty of seminars and other things that people go to . . .that is unless you're a factory worker or a fast food worker, but then again, even they have new training once in a while. As a teacher, I'm required to continue my education to maintain my teacher's license. Even without that requirement, I would still be educating myself by reading new books on teaching practices and learning more about the subject areas I need to teach. My husband is a Graphic Artist and is continually teaching himself new programs so that he can offer better services.

Answer 7

School isn't about education in the sense that they are educating children of the world. Schools are places where the next generation can be trained to bolster the economy, develop technology, and enhance human society superficially.

That's why schools are government funded.

Answer 8

Because sadly, many people do not take the initiative to learn more or refresh what they have learned in school. I agree though, school is not the end all of education, many people have learned great things and applied that knowledge from places and resources other than school.

Answer 9

Because of ignorance.
I walked my daughter to school daily through her first years, and gave her teachers headaches that lasted up until her doctorate. Her honours thesis and doctoral dissertation both were based on our discussions during those early daily walks.

Answer 10

Because it's a place where people gather with the main purpose being to learn!!! No other place is specifically designed for learning.