Real education should set the individual unconditionally free. It should enable each individual to radically transform and regenerate oneself continuously.  It should be a continuous process of lifelong learning not restricted by imposed social strictures, age and time.  Education should be totally devoid of fear and authority, for, in their presence, the individual will shrivel and withdraw, or, become rebellious. Real education is about having total freedom to inquire without the burdens of the accumulated static knowledge of the past, to explore the depths of one’s own self, to experience the interconnectedness of all living systems, to be whole and to retain one’s original mind. Real education is a lifelong journey of self-discovery, a discovery of one’s own uniqueness – the essence – and bringing the essence in one’s interaction with the world.

But, what has schooling done to you?

When you take the free will out of education, it turns it into schooling.

― John Taylor Gatto, Author of Dumbing us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling, and New York City Teacher of the Year in 1989, 1990, and 1991, and New York State Teacher of the Year in 1991

Formal mass schooling has become an instrument to train the mind to conform to the boundaries laid down by society. Alas, it has indeed become a very powerful means to condition the individual from an early age to obey, conform, and not to look above and beyond the conditions imposed by the systems and society within which the individual functions, much like the classical conditioning of Pavlov’s dogs.

Compulsory mass schooling has not only succeeded in “training” people for jobs, it has also massively succeeded in forcing people to fit themselves into externally created standardized functions, which strips the individuals of their innate uniqueness, and forces them to behave in prefabricated ways.

Compulsory mass schooling has, in essence, completely failed to develop humans into awakened individuals capable of critically thinking for themselves, and taking responsibility for their lives.

Can you undo the harm that has already been done?

I have never let my schooling interfere with my education. – Mark Twain

If you “wake up” to the reality of what mass schooling has done to you, it is well within your power to regain control over yourself by not letting your schooling interfere with your real education.  You have to decide to regain the “authentic you” from the clutches of the “conditioned you.”

Real education is unbounded. Real education is dynamic. Real education is unconditional. Real education is being self aware.  Real education is lifelong learning. Real education allows you to write your own script and act your part. Real education is freedom.

Whatever an education is, it should make you a unique individual, not a conformist; it should furnish you with an original spirit with which to tackle the big challenges; it should allow you to find values which will be your roadmap through life; it should make you spiritually rich, a person who loves whatever you are doing, wherever you are, whomever you are with; it should teach you what is important, how to live and how to die.”
― John Taylor Gatto