I wholeheartedly agree with Rousseau's view: education is growth. Education does not involve forcing abilities into the human vessel from the outside; these abilities already exist within human nature. Education merely provides a favorable environment for them to grow naturally. This means that growth itself is the goal, not some separate objective placed before it—such as future social adaptation, career pursuit, or achievement.While career pursuits are certainly not to be dismissed, they are not the purpose of growth. If you grow well and become an outstanding person, those things will naturally fall into place. When a child plays carefree, do not disturb them with what you deem serious matters; when a child weaves beautiful dreams, do not correct them with what you perceive as reality. As Kahlil Gibran said: Children come to you on loan, but they do not belong to you;You may give them your love, but not your thoughts, for they have their own. If you insist on forcing children onto the path of adulthood, you are brutally robbing them of their childhood. Parents often seem to think long-term, worrying about securing a good career for their children from a very young age. They push them into countless extracurricular classes, while some businesses lure parents with slogans like: "Don't let your child fall behind at the starting line."But if a person cannot develop freely and healthily in body and mind, learning only skills, how can they truly flourish in the future?
The journey from childhood through adolescence to young adulthood is life's most beautiful and crucial phase, possessing irreplaceable value. How precious childhood and youth are—yet they are sacrificed for such a trivial goal. Viewed through the lens of growth, every stage of life holds its own value, and the value of each stage should be fully realized.Education should distance itself from utilitarianism and practicality, instead cultivating noble souls.Perhaps we parents place too much emphasis on practicality, constantly questioning the usefulness of everything—a significant weakness in our traditional culture. If a person's education merely imparts knowledge and skills, and the sole purpose of learning is to secure a good job, with economic goals dictating everything, then upon entering society, human interactions will devolve into low-level competition over material interests. A society composed of such individuals cannot be a good one.
Q: Is flawed education more dangerous than no education at all?
A: Education should transcend utilitarianism and pragmatism. It should cultivate healthy, kind lives; lively, wise minds; and rich, noble souls. Only then can our education be considered truly successful. Flawed education, however, steers children toward misguided paths—making it far more perilous and detrimental than no education at all. Education is growth. This is absolutely true.
A Child's Heartfelt Words:
Dear Mom and Dad, I know everything you say and do is for my own good, but do you know I have so many things I want to tell you too?
Don't lose your temper so easily. Don't nag me every day. Please let me make some decisions for myself. Don't disturb me when I'm doing homework. Don't always make me study—give me some time for fun.Stop comparing us to others all the time. Don't fight—keep our family harmonious. Don't use harsh words with me. Try to see things from my perspective. Don't break your promises.