what's the use

The social context of learning and education is important. For me, it means that learning and teaching is a communal affair. We learn from others. We test our knowledge through relating to others. I know I often don't really know what I think about something until I try to express it to other people. Dewey's thoughts about the social context of learning and education are getting at something important. I also liked his notion that education is not preparing for some future event or purpose but has to remain in the now. So often school is separate and unrelated to the lived experience of students. I think that my experiences and relationships in schools have been more influential in my life than my classes. My degrees and diplomas are external evidence that I accomplished something but I cannot say that they are proof that I am educated. The meaningful proof of being educated (I hope) is in my contributions to the well being of others in my life and work. So much of education today is focused on the future (get a job). Unless we are connected to one another, what's the use.