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If You Want to be Rich and Happy: Don’t Go to School
In his book, Robert T. Kiyosaki (1993)
has woven together compelling arguments and inspiring
personal anecdotes about the destructive quality of the education
system.
The education system’s inherent promise of helping young people grow up
to become adults who can realize the American Dream turns out to be an
illusion.
In a world that is characterized by rapid technological and global
changes, the education system has become an archaic institution that
continues to cling to obsolete practices.
Concomitantly,
students are compelled to perform rote tasks of memorization and conform to classroom routines. Regardless of
their academic performance, most of these students emerge as dependent
adults who are incapable of thinking for themselves and adapting to our
changing times.
According to Kiyosaki (1993), the current
education system is fraught with
many problems. First, educators undermine the development of
creative and independent thinking in students with their emphasis on the
right answer. Essentially, students are discouraged from exploring
complex issues when their journey for knowledge is abruptly terminated
with their discovery of the one right answer. Consequently, the
students who thrive in the school system are typically skilled in rote
memorization. However, they are ill-equipped to deal with the
dynamic and complex realities of our society. Instead of preparing
our young people to apply their thinking to changing situations, the
education system has essentially produced graduates who are dependent on
their superiors and limited by their lack of creativity.
Second, the education system is a competitive
institution that punishes
students for their failure to excel in their academic subjects.
The comparison between students and the categorization of students into
average and above average groups create a negative psychosocial
environment. Students who are weak in particular subjects are
identified and mocked by their peers, thus undermining their
self-esteem. At the same time, the other students lose their sense
of compassion and ethics as they are rewarded and celebrated for
“winning” at all costs (Kiyosaki, 1993).
Third, schools do not teach students about money and business.
Instead, educators project the prevailing perception that money is an
inherently evil thing, even though the promise of education is to
provide one with a good job and financial security. However, Kiyosaki (1993) contends that money in itself is not evil. Rather,
it is the people’s lack of knowledge about money that has contributed to
their use or pursuit of money in self-destructive ways.
People do not need a complex education in order to become rich.
Rich people have acquired habits and followed principles, which have
enabled them to succeed in life. In Kiyosaki’s (1993) opinion,
even a seven-year-old can be taught these habits and principles.
Herein lies the fallacy of the education system: Although highly
specialized subjects such as medicine and astronomy require tremendous
education, getting rich requires little education.
In this day and age, people need to
realize that financial security is not equivalent to possessing college
degrees and well-paid jobs with solid benefits. Individuals who
have thrived in the school system by complying with its rules are
hampered by their dependence on external direction and fear in
innovation.
Fundamentally, schools are destructive because they undermine the
process of thinking and learning. Its rules and principles can
only function in a static world. In reality, true security can
only be realized when people possess the courage, independence and
desire to explore new things and acquire knowledge on a daily basis
(Kiyosaki, 1993).
Based on the above arguments, Kiyosaki (1993) presents an alternative education system that will increase its relevance to the needs of our
society today:
• Generalized principles: Students should acquire a set of generalized
principles that will allow them to apply them to diverse situations.
•
Principles of money, business and finance: Students should
learn about these principles so that they can be
prepared for the
practical realities of adult life.
• Freedom
of choice: Students should be allowed to pursue their interests in their work. The freedom of
choice taps into the intrinsic passion of learning within students.
• Life-long learning: Learning is a perpetual process that does not end
when people leave school. Instead of focusing on getting increased pay, people should be concentrating on acquiring knowledge.
With this book, Kiyosaki has highlighted the key
issues that affect every aspect of life—education, work and financial security.
Instead of preparing students for the realities of life, the education
system has essentially sabotaged their natural ability to function in a
world of change. Teaching students to conform and to search for
the one right answer ultimately destroys their independence and their
passion for learning and living. True learning does not end with
graduation and a diploma. Only through the endless pursuit of
knowledge in life will one achieve the promise of financial security.
Kiyosaki, R.T. (1993). If you want to be
rich and happy, don’t go to school: Ensuring lifetime security for
yourself and your children. Santa Rosa: Aslan Publishing Co.