Education --- reply

Alan:

I have very much enjoyed looking through your books and am glad
to have you on this forum. I, too, valued my fairly liberal
college education, but I find that some have little interest in
such and to condemn them to it would be an unjust agony whereas
they might blossom in a more practical program slanted to their
(jewelry) interests.

I have had some great teachers who opened my eyes in a flash of
insight, but I must be getting old, because I really think
structure, discipline and practice can teach you things you can’t
learn any other way. I am reminded of how they taught pottery in
Japan. The master sets you to throwing cups. You throw 400 in
the course of a few days, nothing else. Cups, cups, cups. As
they sit drying in long rows he comes and silently examines them.
He breaks with his cane all but one or two. Gosh, I think
you’ve really learned something!

And there you have it . . . .

Roy (Jess)

Roy (Jess) Thanks for the feedback on liberal arts education and
the art of throwing Japanese cups. Very interesting.

You are certainly right that a 4 year college is not right for
everyone and luckily there are lots of alternatives that might help
those interested in focusing on their area of importance. However,
all things being equal, there is no substitute for a broad
preparation for what lies ahead. Alan