Focus on Work Skills

A quick observation between a presentation in class last week and the paper I'm finishing on lifelong learning in the Netherlands.  Both the presentation and the documents I've been reading focus almost entirely on the work value of lifelong learning.  It is seen as a tool to make people employable and keep currently employed people up to date in our ever-changing knowledge economy.  I understand why that perspective may be reflected in government documents.  They are trying to make strategic decisions about remaining globally competitive.  They are trying to look at a cost-benefit analysis.  All other forms of lifelong learning are typically disregarded or put into the category of "hobby" or "passtime".

But lately, I've been thinking about the importance of lifelong learning for democracy, the environment, and health.  We need citizens who are going to make good choices based on a critical analysis of the information that is being pushed at them through a variety of media outlets.  This relates to information literacy.  We need people to think about the personal choices they are making and the impact that those choices are having on the environment.  We need people to think about food, exercise, smoking, stress, sex, addiction, and other aspects of their lives that affects their long-term health and the lives of their families.

Speaking of health, I need to get to sleep.