Is Experience the Best Teacher?
One could say yes, others would argue no. My thought is, does the experience always benefit me? Does the experience better my life or does it just make me more experienced at making better or different choices?
Experience is nice, but some times being educated on a subject is a better choice. Do I have to experience drug abuse to know it’s bad? No. Do I have to experience death to appreciate life? Of course not.
An education could be as simple as being obedient. For example, you tell Little Johnny not to play in the street because he could get hit by a car. Does Little Johnny really need the physical experience of getting hit by a car to know he could be hurt. No, but he can be taught the results or the consequences of his choices in life. Could his being obedient save him from the experience of regret or harm? Sure.
Of course, this is not the case with every situation, and I will say experience is a teacher, but it’s not the best teacher. Just my humble opinion.
on November 18, 2007 at 7:49 pm
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Thats an interesting question for me as I am training as a counsellor at the moment.
Several people have challenged how affective I would as a drugs/alcohol counsellor as I have not been around it or experienced it. If thats the area I chose to go in.
I will be starting my first lot of work with real clients after christmas, so I guess I will see if what I have learnt will be enough.
on August 6, 2008 at 2:41 pm
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ya I think you are right. “experience made a teacher good, but not the best”
Thanks for Sharing
Jim Signs
on August 6, 2008 at 9:36 pm
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Claire and Jim, I’m a little late responding, maybe I was just getting used to blogging or forgot, sorry. Hope your training went well. Jim it is a teacher, but certainly not the best. I could have done without some lessons.