March 4, 2021

I declare today "National Higher Education Day."  Unfortunately, I have no authority and someone has already made June 6 "National Higher Education Day." Go figure. Pick a date during summer when much of the world thinks higher education is on vacation (in their defense, many of us are).

Since I have no authority to move June 6 to March 4, I amend my proclamation to March 4 as being "Higher Education Lower Ignorance Day."  It will be an appropriate date as the years go by.

If you don't know why March 4 is the applicable date for this recognition, that might be a good thing. It might mean that higher education (and the importance of critical thinking and analysis) are so far up your list of priorities that you can remain oblivious to the ignorance that may surround you. On the other hand, it might be a bad thing, an indication that you bathe in your ignorance. In that case, it might be best you remain anonymous.

Look, if legislators are too chicken to declare March 4 "National Education Lower Ignorance Day," they can find many other options, ones so removed from their time that they won't dare stain their legacies.

Take your pick of several options that could serve as our "Higher Education Lower Ignorance" holiday:

January 1 -- Y2K Is Not O.K.

January 20 -- Say It Ain't So, Joe

February 4 -- The Jeane Genie, Let Yourself Go

March 26 -- Mmm Hale-Bopp

April 22 -- When Even The Craziest Branch From The Branch Davidians

April 29 -- Pat (Solo) And The New Millennium Failure

May 21 -- Camping World Turned Upside Down

August 7 -- Eh, Harmony?

December 21 -- Hey Hey Mayan Mayan

So, honestly, as long as we don't kick New Year's Day out of the mix, I really don't care which of these days we use. Use March 26. No one is alive to be offended by that. Or April 22.  The origins there go back over a century. 

How we observe the day is much more important. How shall we celebrate "Higher Education Lower Ignorance Day,” you ask?  Easy. Crack a book. Preferably a history book.