By: Phillip Mattie
We are all born with brains that have yet to be filled with knowledge and ideas, have yet to be molded by language and made to communicate. And so, naturally, the more aged human beings (that’s polite talk for old people) among us have a distinct brain advantage over younger generations: They know a lot more. More about science, history, mathematics, language, love… The list goes on. However—and this is a mighty “However”—the young make up for their ignorance, or lack of knowledge, in spades with brains that are so much more receptive to new and challenging ideas and are more likely to retain new information. Therefore, it is absolutely crucial for school goers—no, for anyone—not to be afraid of ignorance, but to accept it as a part of themselves as if they were a tree and ignorance a dead branch that must be whittled away.
Know that ignorance is an asset
Yes, you read that right. Your ignorance is your greatest learning tool. In my title, I liken the relationship between ignorance and education to the Yin and Yang symbol. These two things are always in circulation with each other, fighting each other in a never ending battle, positive and negative forces pushing against each other and, in fact, complementing the other. I keep hearing people say, “The more I learn, the less I realize I know,” and this sentiment is exactly why ignorance is an asset, because once you understand your ignorance, you can chunk away at it, make it less than it once was, but with every question answered, new ones crop up… Yes, it’s a never ending struggle, but it is one war I don’t mind fighting. Just (and promise me that you will not do this) don’t think of your ignorance as a weakness, which leads me to my next point.
Don’t be afraid to admit your lack of knowledge
Admitting your lack of understanding on a topic, specifically in a classroom setting, is extraordinarily beneficial to you—and your classmates. After covering a point, idea, or lesson, a teacher will often ask if there are any questions. Often, there aren’t any, and at that point, who wants to ask any questions? Your mind is screaming at you, “It’s the end of the class, let me out!” The trick is to throw up your hand and ask pointed, focussed questions as the lesson is happening—and trust me, if your teacher is worth his/her salt, he or she will be more than happy to oblige you with an answer. On another note, if you have a question regarding the subject matter, your classmates will likely have had questions as well, so the brief respite from information, going into review, will shed a little light on a cloudy topic. Finally, if no one asks questions, your teacher must assume that everyone has understood the lesson and thus will continue onto the next segment, leaving your question(s) suspended in the ether of your mind. Just remember, if you don’t speak up, no one is going to help you. It’s up to you.
Don’t be afraid to ask for definitions (vocabulary, ideas)
I am a huge fan of building vocabulary. You can learn new vocabulary by studying history, by reading new authors and poets, and most of all by writing with a thesaurus in hand—but! Remember my cardinal rule, as stated in a previous blog entry, word choice always trumps vocabulary. Pick the best word for the situation. Unfortunately, in your time in school or maybe in casual conversation with someone you respect, you will be exposed to difficult vocabulary, vocabulary which you do not know. Do not nod and smile and carry on like your instinct tells you to. Do not feign intelligence and knowledge, no. You devalue yourself by doing so. My recommendation here is to politely interrupt—politely, mind, perhaps when there’s a lapse in the conversation—and ask for a definition. I have done this many times and never have I felt shame or embarrassment for asking for a definition, and the question has only acted to enrich the conversation more fully. I can contribute my own ideas on the topic, and perhaps I can take another shaving out of that tree branch of ignorance I mentioned earlier.
Be aware of dogmatic arguments
Dogmatism is one of the slimier, oilier parts of what is perceived as knowledge; you see, dogmatism is the confusion of facts with opinions, where one speaks opinions as truths. Don’t fall for someone who speaks opinions for truth. Dogmatic individuals are often narrow-minded and have failed to properly research a topic, all the while clutching a mean, rudimentary understanding of a complex issue and then speak louder and more powerfully to reaffirm that their beliefs are facts. These people have failed to accept their ignorance, instead claiming that they know everything, that they have all the answers when such a thing is impossible. Don’t fall for such arguments; they aren’t knowledge. In fact, dogmatic arguments come from a place of vast ignorance where any contrary information is disregarded. It’s sad, really, and counterintuitive to the educational process.
Don’t accept Ignorance as bliss
This final message is an important one. It is true that ignorance is bliss. You, me, or anyone doesn’t know any better; I don’t know that there’s a plague in a country over there or I don’t realize that there’s a holocaust going on, raging over an entire continent. But this bliss is bittersweet; if you have the means to assist, you missed a great opportunity. If you had the means to save lives, you missed a heroic opportunity. If, if, if… These conditions would never have been able to take place without knowledge, and ultimately when it comes to your education and while the consequences may be infinitely smaller than those I pose, your ignorance costs you in the form of opportunity. You take opportunity away from yourself with every sliver still left on that tree branch. Your career and livelihood are tied tightly about that branch, your future children’s education and quality of life are as well. So break out that Swiss Army Knife of a brain and start hacking!