Life-long learning wasn’t a common phrase when I went to school and I wouldn’t have described myself as one who loved to learn, but somewhere along the line I realized that I do love to learn. I imagine there are many students enduring their classes now who will one day say that they love to learn. Education is a gift, a treasure, and we should make the most of it.
Retirees can and should go back to school if they would like to.
Typically, we think of education as something we do in the first third or so of our lives, and then we embark on our careers. However, many of us are going back to school in the second half of our lives. I expect that to increase.
Technology is changing at an ever-faster rate, information is exploding, and expertise is becoming narrowly focused. During your career you may have become expert in one area, knowledgeable about a subject, but it was one piece of a huge puzzle. There is so much more to explore.
Universities, community colleges, public libraries, on-line schooling, and Great Course books are just some of the options available to you. This article informed me that those over 65 years old in my state have access to university courses free of charge and several other states have similar offerings. I think I’ll look into some of them.
Retirees may have the time and desire to go back to school, begin another career or just learn something new that they’ve always wanted to learn, and if you take a class or two, you will undoubtedly gain far more than information. You will potentially increase financial opportunities, interact with students of different generations, which will add to your knowledge and understanding, and you will stretch your mind.
Education is a treasure at any age.
Perhaps there are ways that retirees can assist teachers and/or help students be better prepared for adulthood.
Recent articles about the state of education in our country are frightening. Teachers report that students are increasingly disrespectful, not doing necessary work, are on their phones during class, and administrators are apparently unwilling to take action. This is not the case in every school, of course, but I’ve heard several teachers state these as the reasons for their discouragement, or worse, leaving the profession.
America used to be a leader in education, but that’s not true anymore. We are now ranked 36th in the world for the quality and quantity of high school graduates.
Mysteriously (or perhaps not), California’s most recent standardized test revealed declines in math and English language arts — yet rising grades. Larry Sand, writing in City Journal, reports that 73 percent of 11th-graders received A’s, B’s and C’s in math, while the test showed that only 19 percent met grade-level standards. Among eighth-graders, the disparity was 79 percent and 23 percent. Among sixth-graders’ English scores, it was 85 percent and 40 percent. Amazingly (or perhaps not), the high school graduation rate has risen as students’ proficiencies have fallen.
Why K-12 education’s alarming decline could be a dominant 2024 issue - The Washington Post, 6/28/2023
The next generation is not being prepared to grow in confidence, knowledge, work ethic or skill. What makes it even worse is that underprivileged students are often stuck in failing schools while the privileged can afford private schools. This will, no doubt, increase the wealth gap.
The trend is disturbing.
Volunteer opportunities were plentiful when my children were in elementary school. I taught kinder-gym, was a room-mom, supervised parties, chaperoned field trips, and edited the school newsletter. In high school, my husband and I attended every open house, every (boring) sports awards night, every concert, and every football, lacrosse and volleyball game. I was on the board of the music association and my husband was on the technology review board. We were supportive and involved.
It occurs to me that while those were all wonderful opportunities, they had little to do with the actual education of our children. We were fortunate to have excellent schools and aside from the occasional loser teacher, we didn’t worry about the quality of our children’s education.
Sadly, in some schools, parents can no longer assume that their children are getting a decent education. The education system in this country is what it is, but don’t let that distract you from mentoring or tutoring students or otherwise helping out in school districts. Retirees with time and interest can help one student at a time grow emotionally and intellectually.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is the oldest and probably best-known organization for mentoring children. Relationships lasting years, sometimes decades, encourage and empower kids for life. Free Online Tutoring for Kids | Learn To Be looks to be an option for those who have limits on their mobility as it is all online. Both of these organizations will put you in touch with children who can use the support.
Closer to home, your church or other community organizations can also help. I asked for some ideas at the library and learned about Partners for our communities. I had no idea this was available.
As I write this, I think, I should take a class or become a tutor, and maybe I should, but… not so fast. One of the challenges of retirement, of having control of an extra 40 hours a week, is deciding among multiple excellent opportunities for using your time. It can be overwhelming.
I encourage you to consider your priorities, examine your schedule, your physical and emotional energy, and ask God if this is something you can and should do. We can’t all do everything, but we can each do something. Or a couple things. Only God knows what the best fit for us will be, so ask him. He’ll let you know.
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21
Education is a treasure at any age, and we want to give everyone the best chance to take advantage of it.
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
I may check out the tutoring resource at the library sometime
I’ve been a mentor to several young career professionals, and it’s so rewarding to be able to share my experiences and offer guidance. At the same time I continue to learn a great deal from these up and comers that help me enrich my life even at the end of my career and into retirement. The learning is endless and joyful especially without the pressure of having to apply it but rather appreciate it simply as knowledge.