Apprenticeship has been called many things over time and across civilizations. The ancient Greeks practiced it by studying philosophy under teachers like Aristotle and Socrates. The ancient Indians called it the “Gurukula” system wherein students spent 12 years or more at the home of a teacher. Apprenticeship passed down from family to family in Europe and most parts of the world (it was the source of anglo-saxon names like Cook, Baker, etc.). Recent sci-fi geeks have, of course, re-discovered the system thanks to Star Wars.
The principle here is simple – Apprenticeship is the best education model. The 1:1 student-teacher ratio is probably at the heart of it’s success. But, I wouldn’t discount the effect of true character building that such a model entails, born out of constant close proximity to the teacher or jedi master.
Now, the problem with apprenticeship is simple – it doesn’t scale. It is simply not possible to provide 1:1 education to all of humanity. The industrial education model makes sense, as a result.
But, if excellence is our goal, there’s only one way out – seek out apprenticeship opportunities. Apprenticeship is what has made the greats great. For every Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, there has been a Mike Markula and Bill Gates (Sr).
And, if the thought of seeking out apprenticeship sounds daunting to you, here’s an interesting truth I’ve learned over the years – there are more willing teachers out there than apprentices.
A Learning a Day 