Leonardo da Vinci (Part II: Our Education)

Part I mentioned that da Vinci's education was unorthodox and boundless.  There was no one there to tell him what subjects were... he learned knowledge rather than math or history.  With the way the American school system is set up (that is really all I know enough about) breaking ideas into subjects is a method of organization that is used as a measuring stick.  Students must do well to graduate high school for example.  I did well in high school, performed really well in math and science (particularly calculus and physics), somewhat well in my English classes, and okay in my history classes.  My getting a diploma and going to college shows that I gained quite a bit of knowledge, but it all was given to me in small segments that were disassociated from one another.  According to my personal religious and psychological views, I believe truth is one whole; no matter the truth it is all the same pie.  Not seeing that in my education until far later in my student career has hindered me somewhat.  History has had a tremendous effect on literature in society, which has shaped science, helped develop mathematics, change religious views, which has altered political systems, and the world.

Figuring out that everything is intertwined, there is a curiosity that emits from the student to find out what silicon is, how that is connected to Silicon Valley, and how money flows into the equation.
What are the similarities exist between our education and da Vinci's?  The better question is how has da Vinci influenced learning, invention, and curiosity?

Leonardo da Vinci (Part I: His Education)

Da Vinci has always been one of my idols as a kid and as an adult.  He was and is the epitome of a Renaissance Man.  He was an artist, anatomist, scientist, engineer, innovator, inventor, and centuries before his own time.  Many have asked how da Vinci flourished in an environment that almost mandated the best schooling of the time?  Part of the answer to this question lies in the answer as to why da Vinci flourished.

Born as a bastard child in 15 April, 1452 to a peasant woman and a notary, he was not really entitled to a formal education.  He instead was informally tutored in Latin, geometry, and mathematics.  At this young age Leonardo started to show his curiosity.  His lost education would have put him on a course like many students today   thinking that all subjects have to be separate and categorized.

Because of his father and young talent, he was educated as a painter under Verrocchio.  While in Verrocchio's workshop Leonardo would have learn theory and technical skills in many areas relating to art: drafting, chemistry, metallurgy, metal working, plaster casting, leather working, mechanics, carpentry, drawing, painting, sculpting and modelling.

Da Vinci's schooling was unorthodox, yet it enabled him to remain curious and thus creative.  For him there really weren't any subjects; there was just knowledge.  He made connections between fields.  For example, da Vinci became a renowned anatomist (which was very rare during his time because of the Catholic Church's ban on dissecting bodies) in order to be a better painter.  He believed that he could paint something accurately only if he knew what happens under the facade.  This applies mostly to humans but he also developed basic theories about plat tectonics.
To help explain my point, da Vinci is recorded to have said, "The Human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art."