False "god" of Economic Utility

What is it? - Economic utility (g of EU)s the idea that if you go to school, you will guarantee yourself a good job. School is the training ground for your job.

Is this wrong? - g of EU is basing this assumption that going to school to get training for a job will endow you with success. How do you define success? In today’s standards success is most often times measured by your wealth. How much money you make, the amount of stuff you have, the wife/husband you married, etc. defines success. But honestly, some of the better jobs are the ones that are underpaid.
Take teachers for example, they are underpaid, but they have one of the most rewarding jobs out there. Although it is a faulty example since in today’s society we have teachers, thanks to the No Child Left Behind Act, who teach in order for kids to pass a test. Where is the joy of learning in that? In Dr. Ackiss’ advanced freshman writing class we just read Emerson’s essay On Education. Emerson encourages, what he calls, a child’s natural. Meaning a teacher should applaud learning that is outside the curriculum structure. “I advise teachers to cherish mother-wit. I assume that you will keep the grammar, reading, writing and arithmetic in order; ‘tis easy and of course you will. But smuggle in a little contraband wit, fancy, imagination thought,” he writes. Education should be progressive. Today we squelch creativity by not allowing imagination or fancy. Imagination is so important for children, as supported by Emerson. “I tell you the child just born yonder hovel is the beginning of a revolution as great as theirs,” he writes. Someone stated in the discussion the popular phrase “stop and smell the roses.” We shuffle kids right through the education system without teaching them to enjoy life, appreciate the small wonders.
Postman gave an example of this on page 30. He writes, “I did know a youngster once - he was in the second grade - who, upon being asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, answered without hesitation, ‘An orthodontist.’ It is hard to imagine a more depressing answer. It is unnatural for children to regard themselves as economic units except under extreme circumstances, and probably not even then. Nonetheless, since his parents had clearly put that idea in his head, I assume they would have approved.” Is it sad that a child so young has already narrowed down the direction of his future? Many in the discussion said they knew kids who pushed and pushed for achieving some high education status only to be burnt out. Isn’t that the goal of school and education? Pursue one course and conqueror it? I suppose that to find purpose in life, one must explore various avenues. Here is more evidence for supporting a well rounded education.