What comprises an education?  Is it school learning, like the famous three R’s:  Reading ‘Riting and ‘Rithmetic, or life experience, like touching something hot, zigging instead of zagging, or breaking up a relationship.  One could argue that an education comprises much more, and that it begins at birth and continues until death.  Anything one does, and many things one fails to do, contributes to their overall development in some way.  

An ancient Chinese philosopher claimed:

— “Rewards and punishments are the lowest form of education.”  Chang-tzu (369 BC —286 BC), one of the founders of Taoism. 

Under that low standard, I got myself a good education, for as a child I received rewards for being good, and spankings or deprivations for breaking the rules.  Chuang-tsu did not expand on what constituted the highest form of education.  

In grammar school, I recall the punishments particularly.  The good nuns used their standard issue fifteen-inch long, two-inch wide ruler for more than measuring length, but for enforcing rules and encouraging good penmanship. All students had to write with their index finger perfectly straight on the pencil shank. If a student raised the index finger knuckle to access more pressure, the nun would smack that knuckle with the ruler, as a reminder. To this day, I write with a straight index finger, which is why no one can read my handwriting. 

Whenever I would solicit one of my children to do something for or with me, I would always answer their question, “Why?” by saying:  “You’re getting yourself an education.”  I never clued them what part, just that it would advance them in life, being able to do more on their own, or learn something new.  One brisk winter day, I asked my son to help me place outside light bulbs on a tall spruce tree, while I held the ladder.  He was doing a fine job as he climbed up and down while I rotated the ladder around the tree.  At one juncture, his mother came outside to check on our progress.  She shouted to him: “What are you doing up on that ladder.”  He replied appropriately:  “I’m getting myself an education” — a lesson learned.