Learning in the Key of Life-Jon Spayde

In Spayde's interesting idea that a truly good education is obtained through the connections we make in the real world made me think about what I learn in class as well as walking around throughout my life. I could not say I learn more in a classroom than I do in the real world or that I learn more in the real world than I do in the classroom. I think you learn different things in both situations, both being very important in your life. "Will the humanities make you rich? Absolutely. But not in terms of money. In terms of life." This quote reminds me of my grandmother because she is always telling me that if your not happy, money can not fill the void that is making you unhappy. You must find something you love to do, not thinking of the money you will make. I do believe her on some levels and do agree with both my grandmother and Spayde, but money can make your life a whole lot easier, which can help you in the process of becoming happy. In Spayde's essay, he also quotes David Orr who is a professor at Oberlin College. "The aim of slow knowledge is resilience, harmony and the preservation of long-standing patterns that give our lives aesthetic, spiritual and social meaning." Spayde says "Orr says that we are focusing far too much of our energy and resources on fast knowledge, ignoring all the richness and meaning slow knowledge adds to our lives." To me this means that we are trying to learn and gather as much quantity of knowledge as we can in as little time as possible when we should really be absorbing, understanding, and appreciating the things we learn. Gaining knowledge slowly helps you to understand the responsibility that comes with new knowledge whereas learning too quickly you might sometimes use that knowledge irresponsibly.