By William R. Jones
The Scholastic, Inc. booklet, "101 Things You Need To Know," was authored by a staff team. The cultural booklet is geared toward elementary students, who do not need and would not grasp delineation when it comes to the accuracy of actual factual truths. Probably every country has such a publication.
I wish to address the "need to know" of such things in the booklet such as how much salt is there in seawater or what is toothpaste made of. By the way, the booklet was in error on both counts.
I was very much reminded of the American singer Paul Simon's lyrics to "Kodachrome" in May of 1973: When I think back on all the crap I learned in high school, it's a wonder I can think at all. And though my lack of education hasn't hurt me none, I can read the writing on the wall.
My point is that most of the knowledge we acquire, we do not need to personally know. And, that's why I'm disposing of my present approaching one-thousand-book library (mostly textbooks). Many of us who read books find limited time to do so and hardly can begin to determine out of millions which will reward us with the most insight into the world we live in.
In my early years when I was with the U.S. Army Security Agency, there was an ongoing motto that was put upon us to keep us from wandering into other spheres of knowledge and activity: NEED TO KNOW. Although I didn't need to know certain information, I was very curious and meddlesome, which drew forth considerable reprimand from nettled superiors.
Aristotle said "All men by nature desire to know." That, of course, is not true and you have seen the proof of that among the population. Nevertheless, in my addiction, I presently read The History of Knowledge by Charles Van Doren in order to gain a knowledge of history, which I truly don't need in my approaching eighth decade.
Most knowledge is useless to us on an individual level, and we really don't need to know. For example, we don't need to know the nomenclature and how to put a bolt on a nuclear reactor. Of course, as a matter of someone's training and piece of work, it would have significant importance.
I think most important to all of us are food, clothing and shelter; the former is an absolute necessity and the latter two are proper and suitable conveniences. Perhaps the former is the reason many retired begin a gardening ritual to add to soft commodities. These staples of trade are a constant demand that we all depend upon so much. This is why I think farmers are the most important providers in the world. Bestowing upon the local gardener the most important knowledge and know-how.
Does knowledge raise one man above another as the English essayist Joseph Addison implied? I emphatically say "No!" Some say it will raise your income. My response to that: It's the parchment. "You meet a lot of dumb people who went to college!" (Andy Rooney, author and whimsical satirical commentator).
But here's the conundrum: many people are unhappy either because of what they know or because of what they do not know!
The author (wrjones@vsu.edu) published the novella "Beyond Harvard" and presently teaches English as a Second Language.
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I wish to address the "need to know" of such things in the booklet such as how much salt is there in seawater or what is toothpaste made of. By the way, the booklet was in error on both counts.
I was very much reminded of the American singer Paul Simon's lyrics to "Kodachrome" in May of 1973: When I think back on all the crap I learned in high school, it's a wonder I can think at all. And though my lack of education hasn't hurt me none, I can read the writing on the wall.
My point is that most of the knowledge we acquire, we do not need to personally know. And, that's why I'm disposing of my present approaching one-thousand-book library (mostly textbooks). Many of us who read books find limited time to do so and hardly can begin to determine out of millions which will reward us with the most insight into the world we live in.
In my early years when I was with the U.S. Army Security Agency, there was an ongoing motto that was put upon us to keep us from wandering into other spheres of knowledge and activity: NEED TO KNOW. Although I didn't need to know certain information, I was very curious and meddlesome, which drew forth considerable reprimand from nettled superiors.
Aristotle said "All men by nature desire to know." That, of course, is not true and you have seen the proof of that among the population. Nevertheless, in my addiction, I presently read The History of Knowledge by Charles Van Doren in order to gain a knowledge of history, which I truly don't need in my approaching eighth decade.
Most knowledge is useless to us on an individual level, and we really don't need to know. For example, we don't need to know the nomenclature and how to put a bolt on a nuclear reactor. Of course, as a matter of someone's training and piece of work, it would have significant importance.
I think most important to all of us are food, clothing and shelter; the former is an absolute necessity and the latter two are proper and suitable conveniences. Perhaps the former is the reason many retired begin a gardening ritual to add to soft commodities. These staples of trade are a constant demand that we all depend upon so much. This is why I think farmers are the most important providers in the world. Bestowing upon the local gardener the most important knowledge and know-how.
Does knowledge raise one man above another as the English essayist Joseph Addison implied? I emphatically say "No!" Some say it will raise your income. My response to that: It's the parchment. "You meet a lot of dumb people who went to college!" (Andy Rooney, author and whimsical satirical commentator).
But here's the conundrum: many people are unhappy either because of what they know or because of what they do not know!
The author (wrjones@vsu.edu) published the novella "Beyond Harvard" and presently teaches English as a Second Language.
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