Our English Syllabus

Reading: Our English Syllabus, C. S. Lewis

Perhaps Lewis' essay connects a tiny bit better because of my own personal college experience, but Lewis, in "Our English Syllabus," uses his usual clear thought process to explain several different concepts.

First, there is the pre-human and human concept. Lewis refers to the mast, or professor, as "already human," whereas he calls the pupil "a mere candidate for humanity." While this term is tricky, and somewhat offensive, it makes sense. It is not a question of extremes (and, of course, he doesn't literally mean "inhuman"), because Lewis is obviously not calling us students a bunch of barbarians. Quite the contrary: Lewis regards them as beings full of potential, seeking and being guided into knowledge in order to be able to properly function in society without naivety.

Secondly, there is the very idea of education. According to Lewis, we ought to go to college to seek knowledge, and only if we have a desire to. This, of course, is contrary to the mentality nowadays that high school students are expected to attend college as well. Lewis doesn't think this is enough, elsewise the years spent on such an "education" are wasted, because while the student flounders around, going to classes that mean nothing to him or her, nothing is achieved.

Finally, Lewis discusses learning as part of something bigger, a lifelong expedition. Of course, even if you are actively searching for knowledge, college-learning is limited. There is only so much one can learn during one's years at college, but there is infinitely more to learn, not only because of such a limited time slot, but simply because there are things that must be learned throughout life, things that can only be learned in time.