# Does our society value education?

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-our-society-value-education/953574
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [October 31, 2021, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-our-society-value-education/953574 "2021-10-31T16:41:30Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 18

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### Author: ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)
#### Post date: [November 1, 2021, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-our-society-value-education/953574/18 "2021-11-01T09:47:45Z")

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> [@Vaxx and non-covid deaths](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vaxx-and-non-covid-deaths/953563/6):
>
> On the one hand, parents should be free to raise their children how they see fit.

_Should_ they?

> [@Babale](#):
>
> I would argue that from a cultural perspective, America does not value education.

I would agree.  
I would also say this did not used to be the case.

> [@Babale](#):
>
> Do you agree or disagree that our society/culture does not value intelligence/education (except for possibly as a means of achieving wealth)?

I agree somehwat. To your intelligence/education diad I would add a third leg of _knowledge_. This is also undervalued, but is not the same as the other two.

> [@Babale](#):
>
> Do you agree or disagree that this is a bad thing that is having a negative impact on our society?

I agree

> [@Babale](#):
>
> What the heck can we do about it?

I’m not sure, but I think not making education a profit enterprise would help, as well as a return to more publicly-funded television.

> [@GreysonCarlisle](#):
>
> The highly educated value education. The less educated often don’t.

This is not my experience, at least, here in South Africa - nobody celebrates a college graduation like the illiterate grandma from the rural village, and in general, education is seen as very valuable. But not in-and-of-itself, though.

> [@QuickSilver](#):
>
> Teach critical thinking and the value of empiricism.

Your solution to society not valuing education is … a particular piece of education? You don’t see the fundamental flaw in that plan?

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