We are all taught at an early age about the essence of education. We work hard to get into the best schools, bury our heads in books to get good grades, and use this acquired status to land good jobs in the workforce. This is the typical success story that society loves — one that exemplifies what it is to be an “intelligent” kid, one that all of us are expected to strive for. But intelligence is not a piece of jewelry you flaunt around your neck. The pursuit of knowledge entails having to outgrow your prejudices and to break every fiber of your being, only to build a newer version of yourself that is more capable of seeing the world through a different lens. Intelligence requires uncomfortable changes, and frankly, that is not the kind of intelligence that this society wants.

Education introduces us to new ideas and experiences, and schools cultivate a conducive atmosphere where students can develop their capability to think critically and engage in intellectual discussions respectfully. It encourages the youth to be aware of the issues and imminent dangers in the world, and makes the students understand the power they hold to effect change. There are young environmentalists pushing for sustainable environmental practices and holding large corporations accountable for their enormous carbon footprints. There are young activists fighting for the rights of the marginalized in society. Many others are vocally expressing the problems and issues faced by the younger generations in modern times. Yet all of them are being criticized for their actions and decisions, despite being fully aware of the causes they are fighting for.

Receiving such criticisms isn’t anything the youth can’t handle; they are in fact surrounded by many peers who have differing beliefs and views, and might have already encountered people who strongly disagree with their sentiments. They are accustomed to diversity and can compose themselves in the face of dissent. However, the criticisms being hurled at them are not even directed towards the ideas they hold, but rather on their age and their presumed naivety. They are often dismissed as self-absorbed and overly entitled by the older generations, simply because of their contrasting opinions and beliefs. This could be partly attributed to the exaggerated reverence that society imposes on elderly wisdom. Older adults think that they’ve endured far more experiences in life and that their suffering is unparalleled to what the younger generations are (and will be) facing. But adversity cannot be invalidated and categorized; in a rapidly changing world, later generations face new struggles that equally need addressing. This mentality only encourages adults to believe that they are superior and stronger than the generations that followed them, which is not only preposterous but also dangerous.

This perception fuels the rise of anti-intellectualism, colloquially called smart-shaming, among young adults who have attained a higher education. They are ironically called arrogant for showing off their knowledge, or called rebellious and misdirected for having independent opinions and ideas. This is evident from how they are constantly mocked on social media for being “woke”. Apparently, it is difficult to accept that people in their 20s are capable of formulating and thus asserting their own beliefs. It is easier to just dismiss them as immature than to acknowledge the validity of their thoughts and understand where they are coming from. This is a far cry from the safe intellectual spaces that their schools nurture, but it is a reality young adults should face sooner or later.

This all proves one thing: when adults talk about wanting intelligent kids, they only want those who are smart enough to get good grades, yet not smart enough to question their established beliefs. They want their kids to achieve big things, but not big enough, so they could still control them in the palm of their hands. They want kids who look successful and respectable on the outside, and who they can proudly boast about to their friends, but not those who develop a strong identity that strays from the comforts of society. What they want is not an intelligent kid; they want a compliant puppet, one that is not keen on challenging the societal norms and inner self-biases that need challenging. A society driven by a workforce of adults raised in that manner is bound to stagnate, and I fear to live in that kind of society where a marketplace of ideas is nonexistent.