Theory and
My college years were in the late 60’s. I noted that during
the years of training we were exposed to a great deal of theory. My complaint
to the “powers that were” was; “This is all very fine, but we need practical
knowledge and know how to go alongside all this theory.”
We live in a world, and in a culture where a piece of paper,
stamped with some college or university’s backing and approval is very
acceptable and the desired thing. For
some that certificate and status symbol gives great confidence. The recipients
of these pieces of paper are inclined to become overnight “experts”, and lords
of their discipline, demonstrating great academic knowledge and putting everybody
else right, particularly those who do not have their own piece of paper.
The problem for me and my own personal perspective is that I
am old enough to see that often the status information given by the piece of
paper holders is not always correct. More than that, I see that more often than
not the practitioners who do not hold the pieces of paper are
often far more knowledgeable that those who do. Usually, after inquiry, I
discover that deep and practical knowledge of almost any discipline and/or
profession usually comes from years of experience in that discipline, learned at
the coal face. It’s a bit like learning
to swim on dry land. Theory is great – but practice is somewhat different.
Now I am not decrying theory. Actually, I think it is very
important, and will enhance practice. I
know that what we think will eventually come out in how we act. This means that
if our thinking is wrong then our practice will probably be wrong also. I am all in favour of people understanding
the theory. Put good things in your head, right things. However we still need those hands on the job,
or, seeing it another way, getting one’s hands dirty, or a real water
experience.
On that issue - the water
one that is - I am somewhat of an expert.
You see, I come from a family where everybody could swim and swim well. My Mother was thinking of doing it
professionally and challenging the channel.
So swimming was sort of talked about and considered a lot in our house.
One day I went swimming. Swimming with a load of big boys
who went bathing all the time. They asked me if I could swim. Well! I had never done it in water before, but boy,
did I know the theory. I listened to
their feats. Then, at the pool, they asked me again, can you swim? What could I
say? Of course, I responded with “I can”.
I think they were suspicious of this smaller boy’s great theoretical confidence. So, in the pool they congregated at the deep
end. “Are you sure you can swim?” they
asked again. “Of course I can,” I
confidently replied. Thinking to myself, “I did it across a chair, and on the
bed, and on the floor at home. What’s the difference?”
“Right!” they said, “What we want you to do is to jump in
here at the deep end.” It was a depth of
6 foot 6 plus. What could I do? I decided that face saving was the most
important thing on this occasion. So, plucking up courage, I jumped. Yes! Into
the deep end.
I have to say that I learnt to swim very, very quickly, but
it was not a pretty sight. Not only was it not a pretty sight, it was not a
pretty sound. All that practice across a
chair seemed to count for nothing. Water did not quite have the same feel as the
carpet at home.
I believe in theory, but I also believe in experience and
practice. It is not “either – or”. It is both. And if you have just got the bit
of paper and not much practice, may I suggest that a little bit of humility
goes a long way.
A .H.
adrianhawke.blogspot.com
Edited K. L.
