Another of my quixotic projects is making a video production of reading Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essays – which I’m sure would appeal to maybe a handful of folks worldwide.
BUT considering my track record in “estimating market potential” something that I think has zero potential would probably perform better than the ideas that I think have a HUGE potential.
Anyway – good ol’ Mr Emerson pointed out that –
“The man who knows how will always have a job. The man who knows why will always be his boss.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Of course a “good boss” will make sure that the folks doing the “how” have an understanding of the “why” – but that isn’t the point.
On my mind this morning is that the difference between knowing “how” to do something, actually doing something, AND understanding “why” something is done.
story time
In “modern America” my guess is that the “average American” has no idea what actually happens when they flip on a light switch.
Of course everyone understands that you flip a switch, turn a knob, push a button – and “electricity” causes the light to come on. I’m NOT saying that the “average” American is uneducated or unintelligent – I’m just saying that the average American (probably) has no idea “why” the light comes on.
Ok, this isn’t meant to be an insult or a negative comment about “education in America” – just pointing out that the “modern electrical grid” involves a lot of parts. Truly understanding the “why” of electricity takes some effort.
experience vs “time in service”
Again, in “modern America” being an “electrician” requires specific training – e.g. here in Ohio, Google tells me that schools offer “electrician training” programs ranging from 9 months to 2 years.
After graduation our aspiring electrician probably has a good understanding of “how” to “work with the electrical grid” – and can perform work “up to code.”
BUT why is the “code” the “standard” – i.e. the “National Electrical Code ®” wasn’t handed down from “on high” but is (as its website tell me) the “benchmark for safe electrical design, installation, and inspection to protect people and property from electrical hazards”
While our young electrician understands the “how” of his job, they probably don’t understand the “why” of EVERYTHING in the codes.
Again, I’m not trying to insult electricians – just pointing out that somethings won’t become “obvious” until you have some experience doing the job.
SO what is “obvious” to that wise old electrician that has been doing the job for 20 years PROBABLY isn’t going to be (as) “obvious” to the electrician with 1 year of experience.
Of course it is POSSIBLE (and probable) that SOME long time professionals will never progress in the understanding of their profession past the bare minimum. (A small percentage will be (probably) be incompetent but true incompetence isn’t this issue here.)
Yes, this falls into the “insult” category – e.g. it is possible to be in a position for 5 years, and not learn anything. SO that would be “5 years “time in service” but functionally “1 year of experience 5 times” NOT “5 years of experience.”
Just showing up for work everyday doesn’t mean you are going to automatically improve.
teaching and understanding
There are a couple verses in the “Old Testament” that come to mind (emphasis obviously mine):
9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons; 10 specially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb, when the Lord said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.
Deuteronomy 4:9-10 (AKJV)
Notice that the command for parents to teach their children is meant to benefit BOTH the parents AND the children. The “secular” thought is that “to teach is to learn twice.”
Of course there are always “effective teachers” and “not as effective teachers.” Albert Einstein liked to point out that:
“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”
Albert Einstein
SO to teach requires understanding and the act of teaching can/should increase understanding – both for the student AND the teacher.
I’ve been “teaching” in a formal “classroom” sense for almost 10 years. Looking back at those early classes – I definitely learned more than (some) of my students.
I had been working “in the field” for 15 years, had numerous industry certifications, and a Masters degree – so MY learning was mostly about the “why” – but there were still areas within the field that I didn’t REALLY understand.
Ok, the students didn’t know enough to notice that I didn’t know enough – but you get the idea.
This is the old “no one knows everything” sort of idea – at the time I simply didn’t know that I didn’t know 😉
ANYWAY – just kinda random thoughts – one more quote that I would have attributed to Mark Twain (he said something similar – but probably not this exact quote) – Harry Truman liked the quote, so did John Wooden – and Earl Weaver used it as the title of his autobiography:
It’s What You Learn After You Know It All That Counts