The Sunday Read: ‘The Man Who Couldn’t Stop Going to College’
Aug 18, 2024
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Dive into the intriguing life of Benjamin B. Bolger, a man with 14 advanced degrees from prestigious universities. His story sparks a conversation about the relevance of higher education today. Discover his struggle with dyslexia and the relentless pursuit of knowledge, despite challenges. Explore the innovative world of college admissions consulting, blending personal storytelling with elite connections. Finally, witness the unique homeschooling adventures of a father and daughter as they tackle hands-on learning and important social issues like summer hunger.
Benjamin B. Bolger embodies a genuine love for learning, challenging the notion that higher education is solely about prestige and credentials.
His unconventional approach to education, especially in homeschooling, emphasizes experiential learning and emotional intelligence, fostering a lifelong passion for knowledge.
Deep dives
The Story of a Perpetual Student
Benjamin Bulger is recognized as a unique figure in American higher education, having accumulated over a dozen degrees from prestigious institutions such as Harvard, Yale, and Stanford. His drive for education stems from a genuine love of learning rather than a pursuit of credentials, leading him to embrace the role of a perpetual student for over thirty years. Bulger's experiences span various fields, including international development, creative writing, and architecture, which reflect a broad intellectual curiosity. His approach challenges conventional views on the purpose of college, as he immerses himself in the learning process, valuing knowledge and intellectual growth over mere career advancement.
Critique of Higher Education Values
The podcast delves into the contradictions of elite American higher education, highlighting how many students pursue degrees simply for the associated prestige rather than for the love of learning. A survey revealed that a significant portion of graduates from top institutions enter lucrative consulting or finance roles, raising questions about the true value of a college education. The emphasis on credentials often overshadows the educational experience itself, with students feeling pressure to conform to a narrow definition of success based on lucrative job placements. Benjamin Bulger's story serves as a counter-narrative, as he actively opts out of this system, choosing instead to engage authentically with the learning process across various disciplines.
A Unique Educational Philosophy
Bulger's unconventional educational journey is paralleled in his personal life, where he applies his love for learning to homeschooling his children in an interactive and engaging manner. He emphasizes field trips and experiential learning, blending discussions on history and nature with everyday activities to foster a rich educational environment. His teaching style draws comparisons to mentorship, aiming to develop both academic skills and emotional intelligence in his children. This hands-on approach reflects his belief that education is a lifelong adventure, and he hopes to instill a similar passion for learning in the next generation.
Benjamin B. Bolger has been to Harvard and Stanford and Yale. He has been to Columbia and Dartmouth and Oxford, and Cambridge, Brandeis and Brown. Over all, Bolger has 14 advanced degrees, plus an associate’s and a bachelor’s.
Against a backdrop of pervasive cynicism about the nature of higher education, it is tempting to dismiss a figure like Bolger as the wacky byproduct of an empty system. Then again, Bolger has run himself through that system, over and over and over again; it continues to take him in, and he continues to return to it for more.
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