From an early age of 5 to 18, students are forced to acquire an education due to national laws around the world. By implementing this education requirement, the government hopes to increase the potentials students can have in their future at adulthood, thus contributing to a faster advancement for the country in terms of technology, culture, and business. However, after learning the fundamentals of education, such as reading, basic arithmetic, and writing, does making school mandatory actually help students or hinder their full potentials?
In reading the article on Participatory Culture by Henry Jenkins, Jenkins lists examples of students who were attending middle school the different ways in which they were able to succeed, not necessarily due to the help of the school system. Such examples include Heather Lawver who made an online publication with a staff of over 100 people, Blake Ross who made a new web browser Firefox at his own will of wanting to change the structure of Netscape, and Ashley Richardson who controls a government in a popular multiplayer game. The commonality with these students is that none of these projects or achievements came from a school project, or a teacher helping them with these accomplishments. The students were able to create these projects on their own will, due to their own interest in the subject.
With Cesar Chavez, his education has not really influenced his choice on taking action for the farm workers. His influence came from being in that situation and making his own choice to fight for the cause. The education he received did not give methods on how to go about in gathering attention to come to an agreement with the big corporations, in fact education has probably taught Chavez to look down on such actions and live as life is. With his own free will and his intentions to do good to society, he rounded people up and implemented strategies such as fasting to get the organization’s attention, tactics which school does not teach.
Of course, school is not completely futile and dysfunctional. With students and individuals who do not know their passion or potential, school is a great way for students to explore the different variety of subjects available for focus. School is especially important for those studying areas which require heavy education and learning such as the sciences or mathematics. Without the proper basics and foundations of mathematics and science subjects, studying the area on one’s own could be quite difficult, especially if that person is trying to research a new phenomenon without knowing the basics.
However, when students want to enter the business industry or any industry that requires creativity, education could be the least important part to achieving success. When looking at examples such as Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, they were entrepreneurs and started their own business with new inventions and ideas, without finishing their college degrees.
Through looking at examples of entrepreneurs and those successful in their area, education was not their main strength but creativity and innovation. As such, education may not have to be required for people to reach their full potential.
In reading the article on Participatory Culture by Henry Jenkins, Jenkins lists examples of students who were attending middle school the different ways in which they were able to succeed, not necessarily due to the help of the school system. Such examples include Heather Lawver who made an online publication with a staff of over 100 people, Blake Ross who made a new web browser Firefox at his own will of wanting to change the structure of Netscape, and Ashley Richardson who controls a government in a popular multiplayer game. The commonality with these students is that none of these projects or achievements came from a school project, or a teacher helping them with these accomplishments. The students were able to create these projects on their own will, due to their own interest in the subject.
With Cesar Chavez, his education has not really influenced his choice on taking action for the farm workers. His influence came from being in that situation and making his own choice to fight for the cause. The education he received did not give methods on how to go about in gathering attention to come to an agreement with the big corporations, in fact education has probably taught Chavez to look down on such actions and live as life is. With his own free will and his intentions to do good to society, he rounded people up and implemented strategies such as fasting to get the organization’s attention, tactics which school does not teach.
Of course, school is not completely futile and dysfunctional. With students and individuals who do not know their passion or potential, school is a great way for students to explore the different variety of subjects available for focus. School is especially important for those studying areas which require heavy education and learning such as the sciences or mathematics. Without the proper basics and foundations of mathematics and science subjects, studying the area on one’s own could be quite difficult, especially if that person is trying to research a new phenomenon without knowing the basics.
However, when students want to enter the business industry or any industry that requires creativity, education could be the least important part to achieving success. When looking at examples such as Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, they were entrepreneurs and started their own business with new inventions and ideas, without finishing their college degrees.
Through looking at examples of entrepreneurs and those successful in their area, education was not their main strength but creativity and innovation. As such, education may not have to be required for people to reach their full potential.