The mature student in adult education is a wonderful
phenomenon. It brings new dimensions into life. I recommend it to
everyone with any kind of thought in that direction, be it the Open
University, or WEA/LEA classes or one started by enthusiasts up the
street. If there is to be further unemployment, then there will be
ever more unwanted free time to be filled by increasing numbers of
people with little money to spend. I have a great vision for a New
Britain, where people trade in their television sets and buy books
instead and discover the intense pleasure they can bring. In this elixir
we shall hear Chopin, Beethoven and Mozart played in the shops,
music to stimulate the soul and not the terrible noise we hear in
them today. (The sounds that deafen the ears and dull the senses to
such an extent that after two minutes compulsory listening, I can’t
even think, least of all remember what I wanted to buy).
Not only book learning is important, of course, any learning in
anything is important and exciting. Perhaps what I learnt was not so
important. It was, simply, the learning process itself. The learning to
learn, as it were. Acquiring knowledge and skills not known hitherto,
not even dreamt of, producing new satisfactions in myself that I had
not thought possible. I would like to think I had become wiser, and
found that using wisdom through all life’s vicissitudes brought me
new and greater joys and contentment.
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