I am thinking today about what it means to be educated.
J. K. Rowling (of Harry Potter fame) spoke at the spring graduation at Harvard earlier this month.
Some of the graduates were appalled. “She just writes children’s books. She can hardly have anything to say to a Harvard grad.”
Some applauded the decision to invite her. “She models participation in the world—finding a niche, thinking, contributing.”
One might remember the description frequently heard among educators: “Where freshman bring so much and graduates take away so little.” Being educated means more than having a degree. One is not more educated by a degree from a prestigious school.
Competence—now there’s a possibility for what it means to be educated!