I’ve been thinking a lot about the state of education. Not the state of the educational system, which has a myriad of problems, mostly caused by people who are dumb not placing value on education. Because they’re dumb. I see a pattern here.
No, I’m thinking about education. From the Latin (yes, here we go again) educare, which means “to lead or draw out something that is latent.”
In other words, an educator is someone who draws out the talents that are already innate. From the Latin innatus.
If you don’t like Latin, hey, osores odierint.
Son 1.3 and I just returned from a wonderful experience at North House Folk School in Grand Marais, Minnesota. There we took a three-day course called Hookers and Spooners: Working in Horn, Bone, Antler. It was not my first choice but Son 1.3 got to pick, and pick he did.
Harley, a retired professor from Luther College, was a delight. I can only imagine what an effective teacher he was there. He normally teaches Scandinavian wood carving but added this a few years ago as he enjoys working with the materials, in addition to the history of how people have used these materials as nature’s plastic before there was plastic, especially horn.
The class was a collection of all sorts of people. The thing they all had in common was a desire to learn something new. There was a wide variety of skill levels in the class — from an art professor (sculptor) to a counselor who does little with his hands but a lot with his brain. He caught on quickly. No one was there to prove how much they knew…they were there to learn. No ego, no boasting, just quiet learning. Praise for others’ work was frequent and sincere. It was a great few days.
What came out of this was a desire to keep doing these things. I’m pretty sure I won’t be making anything really amazing out of bison horn, but at least I can. Skills are all valuable, and skills such as these may lay dormant for years and surface as a need when you least expect it.
In the end, even if the items made are less than useful, easily purchased or less than perfect, the process is the goal, not the stuff. I spent a few hours making a crochet hook which I could by at the drug store for a few bucks. But I made it, and I enjoyed making it. I also broke three or four really nice pieces during the carving process. ‘Sokay. Would it be nice for them to have remained intact? Sure. Am I disappointed? Nope. Because I know how to make them. I’ll make one again someday.
So aut disce aut discede? Simple translation – Either learn something or get the hell off this rock. I have no patience for people who claim boredom. Boredom is the sure sign of a spectacularly non-creative and undisciplined mind.
Please learn something today.
Respectfully submitted,
Canoelover
A school without football is in danger of deteriorating into a medieval study hall.