By Dr. Randy Nelson
Professor Emeritus of Education
Editorial Contributor
Commencement at any college or university is marked by exhilaration. The venue is bustling with activity as energized degree candidates move to a nearby room to await last-minute instructions. An audience of hundreds has already assembled. Faculty have been seated. Administrators, dignitaries, and honored guests occupy the dais.
Suddenly, drums begin to thunder in accompaniment to the chorus, the doors open wide, and the scholars, resplendent in academic regalia, process into view—dignified and proud. It is an event drenched in majesty.
This day will mark a new beginning for the graduates. Their words and actions will now be held to a higher standard. As newly minted scholars, they will be expected to fulfill the obligations of the educated: the accurate and wise use of knowledge, an openness to diverse viewpoints, the respectful treatment of all people, and a commitment to serving the greater good.
It may seem easy to convey all that we have learned if we value simple recall and the mere conveyance of facts. But when those facts intersect with the complex lives around us, we are obligated to employ wisdom and discernment. We must protect the vulnerable while rejecting misinformation and bigotry. We must demonstrate confidence without arrogance and boldness without brashness.
Educated people must preclude assumptions and generalizations from their thinking. It is distressing to hear statements such as “People of that social class are arrogant” or “People from that country are crude and unintelligent.” Such commentary smacks of unfairness and narrow-mindedness. It is demeaning.
People walking late at night are stigmatized as criminals. Those whose faith differs from our own may be labeled as heretics. Manual laborers are considered less intelligent than those behind a desk. Professors are considered superior to rubber tappers. The faulty generalizations are endless.
Those who have learned about human motivation, diverse world cultures, faulty logic, the psychology of survival, the essence of world religions, and the supreme importance of human dignity will resist such thinking. Instead, they will pursue accuracy and objectivity. They will understand the layers of complexity in all of us and push away from thinking that shackles the multitudes with simple labels. Such principled thinking is the hallmark of the educated.
Those who have been broadened by a strong education will be open to diverse viewpoints. They will weigh what they hear, accept and reject what they will, and respond with clarity.
When we learn from others, we will at times be reminded of our own shortcomings. Educated people are aware of how little they know. They understand that the world’s knowledge is incomprehensibly vast. They may realize that something they learned was inaccurate or riddled with biases. At such times, they must acknowledge the gap in learning and embrace the opportunity to improve.
Because we have received much, we must be mindful of serving the greater good. Educators, for example, might dedicate time each week to helping an adult learn to read. A school administrator might establish a low-cost, high-quality school dedicated to serving the destitute. Nurses might volunteer to educate community members about the health risks of unsanitary foods or the importance of vaccinations. Social workers might offer homeless youth the gifts of food, time, and human concern. They may give them the gift of respect and genuine concern in a world that labels the most broken among us as unworthy.
I know a young Liberian who recently graduated with a baccalaureate degree in a service field. His academic work was exemplary. As a student, he earned leadership positions and developed innovative service projects. He recently accepted a full-time volunteer position in a service agency. He is excited about increasing his knowledge and refining his service skills. His dedication to the greater good is inspiring. He is a Liberian success story.
All of this begins upon completion of an academic degree. When graduates read their diplomas, they will see references to the responsibilities awaiting them: “The university President, along with the Board of Trustees, hereby confers upon you this degree with all its rights, honors, and obligations.”
Those who have been blessed with advanced education are thus called to duty. They must use their knowledge to separate right from wrong, fairness from exploitation, and wisdom from bigotry. They must be prudent in their thinking as they strive to improve the lives of all around them. Therein lies the true majesty of education.