The Necessity of Freedom in Society and Education: A Polymath’s Perspective

Imagine a young student, no older than twelve, sitting at a desk. Her eyes dart from the dull textbook before her to the clock ticking ever so slowly on the wall. Around her, a sea of similar faces stares blankly ahead, awaiting the same directive: memorize, regurgitate, conform. In this classroom, imagination does not thrive—it suffocates. This is no dystopian fiction. It is an all-too-real scene unfolding in schools nationwide, where the freedom to explore, think broadly, and embrace curiosity is traded for standardized tests and prescribed paths.

And so, I invite you to reflect on a question that would make masters of horror and suspense shift in their seats: What happens to a society when its educational system stifles freedom and favors specialization over polymathy?