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Book Knowledge vs. Real Knowledge
Do the metrics we’re tested on translate into meaningful life skills?
Imagine being set up on a blind date by a friend. They describe the person they had in mind for you as badly dressed, a mediocre student and an insomniac who frequently begins their day at midnight. Would you really be tempted to give them a chance?
Other than wondering what you may have done to offend this friend, you may be surprised to know that the person I am describing is Napoleon Bonaparte. The Duke of Wellington said that his presence on the battlefield was worth that of 40,000 men and of the 60 battles he fought, he only lost 7.
Yet despite his obvious talents and outstanding military record, he finished 42nd out of 58 in his military class. The reason? He objected to education as a form of indoctrination. To him, the practical business of being a soldier was more appealing than the whims of a teacher in the classroom.
The experience of Napoleon is far from unique. As a Corsican his accent and deportment were looked down on by French peers. Though others around him knew the right boxes to tick and soundbites to generate, success in school had no correlation to outcomes in life — especially when a guillotine was involved.
Likewise, the UK last year had the highest ever percentage of top grades in exams, but…
