In Praise of Generalists

Posted on September 7, 2011 by zoeweil

We live in the age of specialists who are often given a greater status than generalists. They may train in their specialty for years, becoming the experts we turn to for specific knowledge and information. Specialization begins early. We’ve broken down our subject categories from as early as Kindergarten, and honed those categories into tiny and discreet topics by college.

There is much to be gained in learning something in-depth. I don’t want an orthopedist doing eye surgery on me, and I’d like to consult a climatologist about the path of a hurricane rather than a biologist.

The problem lies when we have trained so exclusively in our specialty that we are largely incapable of considering and connecting the many related pieces of information to a larger whole. The big picture matters, and having educated generalists who can move fluidly between fields and subjects, linking the various “hard” sciences with social sciences and the arts and humanities (especially ethics), is crucial for wise choicemaking and system-changing.

While I understand the impulse for specialization, whether in the sciences or as an activist, too little information can ultimately cause us to see things less clearly, make unwise decisions, and come to too narrow conclusions. Being a Renaissance woman or man in today’s world is uncommon, yet bringing a bit of Renaissance breadth would help us all.

As a comprehensive humane educator and the creator of the first graduate programs in comprehensive humane education, I’ve struggled with the challenge of educating our students well on topics as seemingly disparate as education philosophy and practice, environmental ethics, human rights, animal protection, and the overarching topics of culture and change that include economic globalization, social psychology, ethics, and belief-systems. Choosing eight books each for five core content courses (along with films and articles) means that our graduate students may only read 40 books covering these topics before moving on to their thesis. One could easily read 40 books on education or human rights alone. And so while I worry a bit that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, my hope is that by making connections between these issues and embarking on the lifelong learning process involved in being a generalist (which humane educators must be), we will humbly keep pursuing new knowledge and new connections. (I know that I do, reading about 100 books each year.) With this knowledge base, humane educators have the capacity to draw links and “hyphens” between topics and issues and subjects to help learners expand their own thinking and develop their skills as broad-minded solutionaries, whether they too become generalists, or, like most people, specialists. But even if they follow the common path toward specialization, they will bring with them a generalist’s approach from the humane educators who’ve taught them.

For a humane world,

Zoe Weil, President, Institute for Humane Education
Author of Most Good, Least Harm, Above All, Be Kind, and The Power and Promise of Humane Education
My TEDx talk: “The World Becomes What You Teach“

Image courtesy of MAMJODH via Creative Commons.

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Returning to School: Education for a Livable Planet

Posted on September 5, 2011 by zoeweil

For my blog post today, I’m sharing a recent post I wrote for Common Dreams, a progressive news site. Here’s an excerpt from “Returning to School: Education for a Livable Planet”:

“Students and teachers are returning to school. I know few in either group who are genuinely excited at the prospect. This is a travesty and a tragedy.

Humans are, by nature, passionate about learning. It is truly extraordinary that in a few thousand years our species has learned to create elaborate shelters and to heat and cool them so that the temperature is always comfortable. We have turned minerals and ores into metals that we’ve shaped for every possible purpose, creating the bicycle, the toaster, and the airplane. We have made televisions and computers that the great majority of us cannot actually comprehend, but which we can use effortlessly nonetheless. We have done these things and so much more because our curiosity and imaginations, coupled with our desire and capacity to learn, continually spark creative problem-solving to increase our pleasure, comfort, and freedom. True, we create destructive and unhealthy things too, but the seeds of all creation, good and bad, emerge from our ability and desire to learn.

Almost all of us can easily recount times when we have experienced profound joy and excitement while learning something new. Learning is deeply pleasurable, a source of energy and enthusiasm and the foundation for virtually all growth, innovation, and invention. And this is why it is a travesty and tragedy that so many students and teachers lack enthusiasm each September.”

Read the complete post.

For a humane world,

Zoe Weil, President, Institute for Humane Education
Author of Most Good, Least Harm, Above All, Be Kind, and The Power and Promise of Humane Education
My TEDx talk: “The World Becomes What You Teach“

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Reflections on Irene: Cultivating Our Inner Compass

Posted on September 2, 2011 by zoeweil

In the days leading up to Irene, and during the two days the storm traveled up the eastern coast of the U.S., I happened to be doing a lot of driving. I brought my son back to his school in Massachusetts and then took a trip to the easternmost county in Maine. All told I spent about 18 hours in the car over three days. Because I have satellite radio in my car, I have lots of news options. I spent most of the time listening to CNN, Fox News, and NPR, following the reports of Hurricane (later Tropical Storm) Irene.

I watched myself being manipulated by the media, which preyed on fear and fed a lust for voyeurism. As it became clear that Irene was not going to be as bad as predicted – at least not in the east coast’s major metropolitan areas – I found myself simultaneously relieved and vaguely… disappointed. That I felt disappointed at all shocked me, until I tried to deconstruct what was happening to me. It’s as if the media had turned Irene into a blockbuster movie, and now the movie lacked excitement. I was conflating entertainment’s adrenalin rush with reality, a reality that was, fortunately, much better than it could have been.

My own mother lives in a 7th floor apartment in New York City. How could I feel anything but relief that her power remained on throughout the storm and that she was safe and secure? When I contacted my son, in the direct line of Irene in Western Massachusetts, to ask how the storm was, he said it was pathetic. Even he was looking forward to something bigger and scarier and more impressive than the wind and rain that knocked power out for only 3 hours. Only later, when he saw the devastation in Brattleboro, Vermont, only 20 minutes from him, did he realize how lucky he was.

Listening to newscasters desperately trying to hype up what was happening, to get passersby to make things sound worse, reminded me of the creepy curiosity that causes most of us to slow to observe an accident, not because we plan to stop and help, but out of some yucky fascination that represents our basest selves.

Noticing how easily we are manipulated, how quickly we can lose our sense of perspective and clarity and even inner morality is important. Finding our compass is a critical component to remaining clear-headed when media (and other) manipulations threaten to erode our values, beliefs, and even our integrity. Maintaining an inner eye that watches our own emotional lability, that observes our response to manipulations, that reminds us to use our critical thinking skills and nurture our best qualities – especially during emergencies – may be the best way to ensure that we have the tools and level-headedness to confront not only apparent crises, but the pervasive problems that should appear as crises (e.g., global warming) but which do not.

Cultivating that inner compass often demands perseverance on our part. We need to expose ourselves to many views lest we be manipulated; we must continually challenge ourselves to learn more and seek out accurate information. We must remain vigilant to the power of brainwashing and recognize our own susceptibility to opinion disguised as fact.

Be vigilant. The world needs your good mind and big heart intact.

For a humane world,

Zoe Weil, President, Institute for Humane Education
Author of Most Good, Least Harm, Above All, Be Kind, and The Power and Promise of Humane Education
My TEDx talk: “The World Becomes What You Teach“

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