Today us Cemestos Gardenites went up to my old homeplace. It’s in the 37873 zipcode area for all you enquiring minds.
At some point or another, while sitting out on the front porch, my dad and I were talking when the subject of Responsibility and Lifestyle came up. That is a big, generic subject heading that basically translates into: people drive gas guzzling cars too big for everyone’s own good. I don’t think we solved any problems, but it was good to talk with my dad. I don’t get to sit with him so much as I would like to.
He is the sort of man who is able to fix things. He can figure out how make things work. He taught himself how to make baskets. But these aren’t just any crappy, old fruit baskets. No, he goes out into the woods and cuts down a tree. Then drags it back and makes a couple baskets.
Anyway. He said, "you know people are surprised when I tell them I don’t give basket weaving lessons." I know, don’t email me news of your disappointment. Then Dad goes on to say, "People can’t seem to do anything unless they go to a class and learn how to first." Silence.
That comment struck me like a baseball bat. What? Is there such a predicament as being educated to death?
What if my Dad is right? (I think he is, by the way.) How did we get to this point? What if our education system is a big machine that just produces more students?
All this time I thought I’d been taught to be original and think for myself. Now, I’m going to have to go back to school.