One of the lines I liked best in "Good Will Hunting" was the jibe about the one grad student having spent $50,000 to learn no more and not better than he might have learned on his own in a good library for no more than $50 in late-book fees.

Moral:

If you wish to learn, to educate yourself, and the resources are present, you can -- and no one can do it for you.

Corollary:

If you wish to remain ignorant of a subject, you will, and there is little that can be done to stop you. Or, as my less-than-eloquent father would say:

You can lead a whore to culture, but you can't make her think.


Parents are the answer, and the ONLY element that can set the right tone for learning -- and the tone has been set before your child hits age 10. Children become imbued with the learning values they see demonstrated. Do you read books for entertainment? Watch the news? Read maps and discuss the value of ground and resources? Discuss political strategies and policies? Work at your own continuing education? Or do you really focus your time on watching how well Dale Jr. is gearing up for this Sunday or the important doings of Wisteria Lane?

As ye sow, so shall ye reap.