The American author Winston Churchill in his 1914 novel A Far Country offers - - to us today - - a surprise solution to the problems of society 100 years ago - - lifelong learning.
In fact, most all nonprofit institutions that offer lifelong learning for adults today got their origin, their beginnings, 100 years ago.
They did not call it lifelong learning back then, Churchill called it "re-education." Here's what he writes that society should have:
".....inaugurated and developed a system of democratic education....." (pg 455)
"....the simple and practical fact (is) that the greatest assets of a nation are healthy and sane and educated, clear-thinking human beings....." (pg 457)
"....the vast majority of people of voting age in the United States were under the obligation to reeducate themselves." (458)
"This meant the development of a new culture, one to be founded on the American tradition of equality of opportunity..." (pg 459)
On the last page of the book he outlines his solution:
"My plan is that we try to educate ourselves together, take advantage of the accruing knowledge that is helping men and women to cope with the problems, to think straight." (pg 508)
It was a good solution. 100 years later, it still is a good solution.
Another "view from the canoe": Presque Isle river in a national forest in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
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