school = learning?

So, Alpine is done with school... as far as the book-work goes. I'm so jealous!! I'm NOT jealous, however, of the boards he will have to take in only a few months. Since I have been trying to dutifully attend to my homework (ugh), I thought I would share some interesting points here:

(All citations from:
Knowles, M.S., Holton, E.F., & Swanson, R.A. (2005). The adult learner: The definitive classic in adult education and human resource development. (6th ed). Elsevier: Burlington, MA.)

Carl Rogers was a humanistic psychologist who is considered the father of client-centered therapy. This runs in the same vein as andragogy (not androgyny, as I keep trying to say), the study of adult learning, which views adult learning as learner-centered rather than teacher-centered. That's enough background for this quote:

"Clinically, I find it to be true that though an individual may remain dependent because he has always been so, or may drift into dependence without realizing what he is doing, or may temporarily wish to be dependent because his situation appears desperate. I have yet to find the individual who, when he examines his situation deeply, and feels that he perceives it dearly, deliberately chooses dependence, deliberately chooses to have the integrated direction of himself undertaken by another. When all the elements are clearly perceived, the balance seems invariably in the direction of the painful but ultimately rewarding path of self-actualization and growth." (p. 51)

Read it again - I know it's a little wordy, and strangely wordy (and punctuated) at that.

Here's what I read: Though a person might choose to be dependent for several reasons - either because he has always been that way, or he might have gotten there unintentionally, or maybe he temporarily has to because there isn't another choice - I have not yet found a person who, when they really look at themselves and their situation, actually chooses dependence. Though it may be difficult, people generally want to choose the path that will be most rewarding - that of perserverance and hard work.

This is said in regard to learning - both formally (in school) and as a patient... that basically no adult wants to be told what to do. That is not rewarding, it doesn't make us feel good about ourselves, and we don't feel worth anything. Supposedly, we want to take responsibility for ourselves... we want to make our own decisions... we want to contribute in some way.

So... why is it that we seem so quick to let the government "take care of things" for us... to let the government "give" us something, only so they can restrict our actions because of their so-called generosity?

Yes, I've got my head firmly inserted into Glenn Beck's rear... but I swear, I thought of this weeks before his rant about nearly the same thing. I guess that's why I like him so much... he believes in responsibility, and all the other things that I also believe in. When he rants about something on his radio show or on tv, in many cases, Alpine or I have ranted about the same thing. This wasn't supposed to turn into a Glenn Beck Love Fest, but some things just can't be helped... =)

In conclusion... what the heck are we doing to ourselves?!?