Traps of education

There is a clear distinction between education and learning.

Education is the idea of going to an institution for a piece of paper to send a signal to future employers that you are competent at what it is you do. You can be safe, predictable and reliable in a world of uncertainty.

Learning, on the other hand, is totally different. Learning is the process of going from of place of competence to temporarily becoming incompetent. Creating tension and then working to release it once we see how something works.

Too much education is as dangerous as too little education. No one is arguing that we don’t want a brain surgeon to operate on us who didn’t finish med school.

Yet, when markets deregulate and focus on efficiency over resiliency, a six inch snow storm in Texas can have major consequences. Because the power grid couldn’t keep up with the demand at least 80 people died.

Make no mistake, this isn’t the the work of ignorance but of the educated.

Education isn’t learning.