Education Enigma

One busy day at a mall, I was waiting in line for the restroom. When my turn came, I entered, only to be shocked by the state of the bathroom. It was filthy, with tissues scattered everywhere, and the toilet hadn’t been flushed. I felt disgusted. The janitor, noticing the mess, quickly said, "Ma'am, give me two minutes to clean it." The person who had used the restroom before me was well-dressed and appeared highly educated, yet it was an uneducated woman cleaning up a mess she didn’t make, leaving the bathroom spotless after use. This scene is not rare—I’ve witnessed it countless times.

Does education truly make us better human beings? I’m not so sure anymore.

Plastic is damaging our planet, yet people continue to assume that someone else will handle the recycling, or they downplay the urgency of the issue. What is the use of studying chemistry, human sciences, and environmental studies if we don’t apply that knowledge to sustain life on Earth?

Educated people often consume junk food, while those with less formal education may prefer homemade meals and are more knowledgeable about natural herbs and ingredients. Many of us have completed at least one nutrition project in school. Did that help us truly understand nutrition?

This leads me to ask: Does education deserve the spotlight, or are we focusing on what we expect education to provide? I’m not claiming education is useless, but what we are being taught doesn’t always equip us with the skills or wisdom we need to live meaningful, responsible lives.

Education is just a tool; wisdom is the one that is required to use it wisely.?

I’ve encountered some of the harshest racism from those responsible for promoting inclusion. Body-shaming comments at healthcare, & women empowerment, events. I’ve seen finance experts suggest laying off employees or replacing them with robots as a smart cost-saving measure while rejecting empathy and leadership training as an unnecessary expense. Those who preach sustainability are often the same ones changing their wardrobes every season, while those with less formal education resist buying things just to show off on social media or please others. They buy what they need, not what they want.

Is edication is illusion we live in our entire life to hide from ourselves?

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Is education, in the end, an illusion? Does it keep us distracted from what truly matters, focusing on things that are insignificant? I’ve seen teenagers from prestigious schools tossing trash out of moving cars and professionals driving luxury cars leaving empty cans in parking lots, with trash bins just a few feet away.

There are also educated people cutting across lanes on the road or taking the wrong entry because they have fancy, high-end cars. Someone bending the rules to favor a friend or engage in unethical behavior is also likely highly educated. Cyberbullying and promoting unrealistic beauty standards to teens are often carried out by individuals who are no less educated than those condemning such actions.

I’m not against education; it’s just the first step. Much more is needed to truly become a wise human.

Someone crossing a red signal because no one is watching is equally educated as someone who rushes to take the seat on an amusement ride, denying a child or elderly person the chance to sit. Office politics are rampant—people use others as stepping stones to climb the corporate ladder—while those who aren’t as highly educated stand by each other in times of need, showing loyalty and compassion. Our villagers, ancestors, and grandparents often demonstrated more resilience, kindness, and community spirit than many educated professionals today. His ability to smile at strangers without any inhibitions makes skeptical smiles of an educatd so fake.

Somewhere while collecting paper degrees, we lost age-old wisdom behind.

A person smoking at a children's park is just as educated as someone who engages in harmful behavior toward others, such as bullying or mistreating a lady or a family.

Suppose years spent in schools and colleges do not teach a person to leave a toilet clean behind them, to be kind to those who are different races, to refrain from posting someone else's public fights on their social media to get more likes, to not push people away from the lane you drive on the road, to avoid judging people based on race, or to speak out against injustice. What is the use of the paper they collect??

I’m left questioning: How is education making us better human beings? Or perhaps the real question is, do we truly understand what we are learning?

Education and wisdom are not the same. They are entirely disjointed.

Education and Wisdom are totally disjoint sets.

I urge you to reflect on what you are doing and how you truly feel about being classified as "educated.". Where do you think education can meet wisdom in your life? Do this before you try to inspire children, teams, or others in your community. Let the wisdom reflect in your life with action.

When you are ready, lead by example. Tell children, teams, and communities with your actions, not words, what is the right thing to do. Do not just rely on education; develop wisdom, self-awareness, and available human intelligence.?

Share with someone you care about.

Neetu Choudhary

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?? Award-winning keynote speaker, internationally recognized corporate trainer, UAE's top professional development coach, author, idea presentation advisor, and business excellence expert.

You might also be interested in another insightful newsletter by Neetu Choudhary, Stay Relevant:Be Future Ready. This newsletter is focused in business and professional development using Neuroscience, Behavioral Science, Six Sigma and Business Excellence strategies.