In this alternate universe school is completely funded by the government and housing is included.
Look, I’m not saying that you’re lazy for not spending your nights and weekends at the library taking online learning courses, but you can answer your own question by answering another, “What’s stopping you now?” There are fewer barriers to education now than there ever have been. People who are curious learn. People who are driven accomplish. People who are both discover.
I have done my fair share of school. I just think it would be cool to keep learning, but not only that. I think if peoples default was to continually learn stuff and the time allowed to do it wasn’t hampered by outside influences we could all engage in much deeper conversations about all sorts of things.
You should never stop learning. School gave you the framework by which you can build new information and knowledge, use it!
School isn’t just learning the stuff in the classes. It’s the shared experience too. It’s the teachers holding you accountable for learning.
“Going to school” is a very different thing than just trying to learn on your own. Self motivation and time are a huge barrier for a lot of people. I think the OP was imagining being able to go to school every day and just take classes for free with other people also interested.
That’s how it works now. Assuming you can afford it.
Harvard puts classes online for free, libraries are already paid for through tax dollars and YouTube exists. You can go back to school whenever already friend
You can go back to school whenever already friend
The hypothetical included living costs. Which would let you digest those educational resources to learn. Saying they are there without having a system in play is just ignoring the realities of life.
As a self learner, knowing this, I’d like to have a word with whomever set requirements for any job requiring a degree.
I’m a firm believer that as long as you can show you knowledge and can accomplish the job, the piece of paper is unnecessary. It’s also why I think apprentiships should be more of a thing again. Degrees are a very modern thing that while a very useful tool, isn’t being used right.
A degree shows that you can complete a long-term multi-phase project involving a large variety of tasks and disciplines while following the rules established by the organization.
Of course, and any job will expect some degree of training anyway. But there’s only so much that can be tested for before hiring someone. A degree is just a reference from the university that you meet their standards of mastery at whatever major at whatever level. Some jobs expect you to have one just like some expect you to have references from individuals, but others will have other tests for qualification which may even just be an interview conversation. Apprenticeships are pretty similar; each is an individual or group staking their reputation on vouching for your competency. Even a GED or high school diploma is a reference, just from an organization or a public institution.
Probably those who had massive errors happen because people bullshitted their way into a position. Certification is important. It’s impossible to test all the bits of knowledge required for a position every time someone applies for a position with the potential for huge fuckups (doctor, engineer, pilot, etc.)
I don’t want to be in the plane with the self taught pilot, even though I think the requirements in the US are kinda bullshit.
I’m not denying that schools are fleecing students and jobs have some protectionism going on with certifications, but there’s a balance to be struck. These requirements happened for a reason.
The library?
The government would end up housing and educating most of the population, which would cost more than any country could afford.