I finished my last class of the semester about 18 hours ago. It was my 45th year in the classroom. I believe that I taught most of my students a lot of accounting. I would hope, though, that I helped them see more about life than just my subject matter. Maybe I am wrong but I think 50 years ago college teachers were interested in more than the pure conveyance of subject matter. As I look at the weirdness of the current presidential race, I wonder whether we have come to focus too exclusively on subject matter.
So, I got up this Saturday morning and sent a final message to my students. Not sure if it will make them any different but, maybe, in a few cases, they will think about their future lives a bit differently.
To: My Accounting Students
From: JH
It's been a great semester (despite all the snow). I have pushed you hard and you have responded wonderfully well. No one threw a chair at me and I always consider that a victory. I believe you are all better, more knowledgeable, more thinking people than when we first began this voyage way back in January.
I think that kind of education is vitally important. I think that kind of education is worth working hard to attain. You simply don't gain an education without both work and guidance. As you go through life, select your mentors wisely.
But, I think an education has to be more than just the accumulation of knowledge. Smarter people are not necessarily better people. You need both -- to become smarter and better. Not just here in college but every day throughout life. I think we often focus on one and not the other. The world often seems off kilter to me and I think that is one of the main reasons.
I read a column recently written by David Brooks. He is a political columnist who is a whole lot more conservative than I am. In our political world, his having different political beliefs than mine would probably be a reason for scorn, a reason for me to make fun of him. But, I love to read what he writes because he is a truly thoughtful person. You don't meet enough of such people in the world. You can learn much from them.
I wanted to share this column with you. He doesn't mention accounting but he provides some thoughts that are very much worth hearing. So, while you are studying for your final exams, when you want to take a break, here is something you might read. It won't add any points to your grade but his thoughts might well lead you to become a better person and surely that is a goal almost (almost) as important as a couple of extra points on my final exam.
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