Welcome to a new academic year. I love a new semester. I especially love the fall term. I get to start fresh as some say. I can try new ideas in my courses. I revamp old ones and I get to share my philosophy of education with a new group of students.
Part of my philosophy revolves around my love of independence. Like Thomas Jefferson I argue an education should give us the tools necessary to live free. We must learn how to argue our cause.
Below I outline a curriculum I recommend to students who want independence. Some of this you can learn in school. The rest you learn through interaction with intelligent people and through contemplation.
1. Study history. All events repeat themselves. Only the players change. If you know what happened in the past you can test current opinions and can safely predict the future. Only those ignorant of the past say we can’t predict the future.
2. Master language. We make sense of the world and reason with words. With limited language you have a limited ability to reason and understand why things happen as they do. Also those who have mastered language can manipulate you.
3. Understand economics. You can’t gain independence without financial freedom. To do this you must understand how money works. Study the lives of the financially independent and observe their habits. Reject the view that only a certain amount of money exists and as long as others have it you never will. With millions of millionaires in America why can’t you join them?
4. Reject group think. You lose your ability to reason and you make emotional decisions when you let groups think and conclude for you. Groups survive this way. The leaders feed off the individuals. Always think for yourself. Practice your independence. This also includes your actions.
5. Have intelligent friends. Nurture relationships with people smarter than you. You will learn something new everyday and will always develop your mind. Most intelligent people probably do many of the things on this list too. Education requires change. Those who fight new, better ideas and ways to live don’t really want an education. Don’t lament if you outgrow your current friends. Rejoice!
6. Develop a life philosophy. Decide how you want to live and what you want to do with your life. Don’t let others define you. This includes family, friends, celebrities or the latest fashion. Remember those who stand for nothing will fall for anything.
7. Cultivate a sense of proportion. You will think the future looks bleak if you listen to too much television news and gossip. We live better today than kings lived 100 years ago and the future looks even brighter. Those ignorant of the past don’t realize this.
8. Practice gratitude. Thousands of people make our lives possible. We owe a lot to people we will never meet. When you do get the chance to meet some of the people who make your freedom possible thank them. Also constantly remind yourself how good you have it. This has a very liberating effect. Those ignorant of economics don’t realize this.
9. Protect your physical and mental health. Many young people abuse their health. Once you lose it you lose your independence. Start early in life with exercise and a good diet. Reject all drugs and alcohol and poisons to the mind we get from television, film, music and other media. Develop a good relationship with a doctor and speak openly about how you feel.
I wish you a productive, safe new academic year. To all first time college students I say, “look out”. What seems like a long time away-graduation-will get here sooner than you realize. Time flies when you learn and live independently.
Copyright Bert Lorenzo, 2007
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