Education in a consumer society

The UK's 'consumer society' has become the norm: we feel we have the 'right' to pick and choose what we eat, what we wear, what car we drive, where we live, what job we have, and so on. It is as though we have lost the real reason for doing things: we eat to live and should buy food we can afford; we wear clothes to keep warm and modest and should dress appropriately for the given situation; a car is for transport; a house is somewhere to live; a job is to earn money to pay for everything else in life.

But people feel they have a 'right' to have a large flatscreen TV with all the Sky channels, an XBox to go with it, a fancy car and extravagent holidays. So many people are in debt because of the lie that 'you deserve it'.

And it seems to me that young people enter into this consumerist society during their school days. They are used to having all the choice of life at their disposal, and then they apply it to their education. Despite more choice becoming available as they get older, right from a young age they decide that they want to be in control of what subjects to study: "I don't like maths. Therefore I won't pay attention and I can't be bothered to make the effort."; "I don't like my English teacher. I don't want to study it anymore."; "I'm never going to be a historian, so what's the point of learning it?"

It seems to me that there needs to be a shift in thinking.

1. Education should be seen as a priviledge, not a right. It is wrong to assume that just because a person is forced to go to school that they will be educated to a suitable level. Learning is entirely dependent on attitude and motivation. Even a teacher who is seen to be unfriendly is still able to pass on their knowledge.

2. If a person wishes to be educated, they need to accept the system. A person who has not yet gone through the system cannot possibly have enough knowledge to understand it and propose sensible changes which will benefit the majority. Only when they have gone through it themselves, will they be able to modify it for the better. (But of course, if it worked for them, why would they want to change it?)

3. There will always be things in life that we don't like. There will be aspects of education that we find dull and uninteresting. Choosing to get educated despite the feelings is how a person develops stamina and patient endurance. The consumerist society has created a generation of 'softies' who feel everything should be tailored to their wants and desires. It is as if they feel that hard work should only be required when it's something they want to do.

How is this beneficial for society? Who will be left to do the hard yards? Why should some people be forced to do the hard yards, just because others can't be bothered or don't like it?

Stop the whinging. Grow up. Get educated. Get clever.