As I was cramming like mad for my final essay on the educational philosophies of Rousseau and Aristotle, I stumbled across a quote most appropriate to my last week in Oxford:
"Learning is not a matter of amusement.
It is attended by effort and pain."
-Aristotle, Politics, VIII.4.4
Undoubtedly there will be effort and pain as I work over the next three days to research for and write my last 4,000 word essay of the term. (to save my academic reputation, I have to say that I did begin researching a number of weeks ago, but there is still a ton yet to do...)
The effort and pain is paying off, however, as I reflect on how much I've learned and grown over this term. I have had an amazing experience in Oxford, and as much as I look forward to having this last essay behind me, I am going to miss this beautiful old city of spires. For now, I am just trying to soak up every last minute of reading in the Bodelian, walking through my favorite park, and sharing wonderful fellowship with my housemates (which today, came in the form of a snowball fight!).
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I remember someone once saying that education requires the learner to admit he is ignorant. I'm not sure as I agree with Aristotle that pain is part of the learning experience. In that case it adds a disincentive to learning.
I believe learning is best when done in the mode most akin to a person's style of learning. For example I am a highly visual learner. If you are an auditory or kinesthetic learner we would not be employing the same kinds of learning techniques for grasping concepts. And in many senses the modern education system pigeon-holes itself by only catering to one or two styles of learning.
Actually, I'd like to hear your views on the modern education system.
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