Gene Carter's Purpose Of Education

There seems to be no perfect answer to the question, “What is the purpose of education?” Every expert and activist probably has a different answer. Martin Luther King said the purpose of education is to, “…enable a man to become more efficient, to achieve with increasing facility the legitimate goals of his life (King, 1947).” Eleanor Roosevelt argued that the purpose of education is good citizenship (Roosevelt, 1930). Others, like Newman (2006), posit that education is a much broader idea. It is the “entire process by which a culture transmits itself across a generation” (Newman, 2006). In trying to form my own idea of the purpose of education, I tried to look at all of these ideas

Do we first look at the purpose of schools as preparing students for the future careers, turning students into lifelong learners always seeking knowledge as our universe changes, developing morally sound adults in a democratic society? There are many aspects of the educational purpose of schools that has evolved as our nation has grown and changed. When I think about the educational purpose of public schools today, I look at how do we help students learn how to seek information, apply skills, and gain resources to make sure their needs are met while being a productive member of their community and society. The old saying “You can’t teach an old dog a new trick” is far from the truth and the educational purpose of public schools should be related with how we shape learners to be able evolve with our ever-changing

Education should not only be looked at as attending college and passing exams to succeed in school. Nevertheless, it should be seen as the complete development of one's personality, intellectual development, and moral evolution. The system tells everyone to learn the same material, even if the students are bored and even if they’re sleeping during class. In the article “Against School”, John Taylor Gatto states, “teachers didn’t seem to know much about their subject and clearly weren’t interested in learning” (Gatto). This shows the teachers and the students disconnect from the context because either it’s irrelevant or not being taught in inspiring ways. I believe an educated person should at least have some background knowledge for a job

The purpose of education is to provide all children with the tools to reach their fullest potential. Realistically educational systems have failed (and have been set up this way) to exclude various groups based upon race, gender, orientation and social class. This is the history that education is trying to deal with, and overcome (Roland, 2009).

The primary purpose of any academic institution is to develop and prepare a young person for after his schooling years. In, “The Purpose of Schools,” Michael Peterson states the two goals of any school: to teach students who have specific skills to perform jobs, and introduce students to active citizenry (Peterson). In other words, Peterson argues how a school must prepare one for his or her future instead of preparing them for a career in sports. John Dewey writes, “Education should create an interest in all persons in furthering the general good, so

In society, education is very important for children to learn the things that need to be taught to them. Society is focused on acquiring money, but no one can earn money without a job. Children should go to school to learn what needs to be learned

I believe the purpose of education is to give students the necessary skills to reach one’s full potential. In “The Achievement of Desire” by Richard Rodriguez, the author tells how his involvement with education caused him to become disconnected from his family. Because there were no minority studies, the author had to adapt to a Western European point of view which caused him to become isolated from his family, while also disconnecting him from his culture; however today with the emergence of multicultural perspectives, minorities are able to understand their culture and create deeper connections with their communities.

Today, a school education is no longer an option or privilege, but rather a need in the United States of America. The author of “Against School,” John Taylor Gatto says, “Do we really need school?” (143). What if children will not go to school, then how will they learn to read and write? Education is the demonstration of learning things around us and helps us to comprehend an objective in life. Most people who believe that children need higher education in order to succeed in life. We often don’t understand why we have to go to school every day, but when we grow up we realize that children need to attend the school for a wide range of reasons, for instance; for new experiences, increased knowledge or career preparation. School

Another way to approach education and its purpose would be to examine the relationship among schools and their responsibility for their students. While the previous paragraph was about the contribution to society as a whole, this one is about the personal effect that schools should have on their students. What should be the focus for public schooling, and how does that have purpose? This is an important question, and it sounds awfully familiar. A common conception of public schooling is that it’s a place to formally educate and prepare children for college and careers that will determine their lifestyle and place in society. However, most people forget to consider that the most important thing in life is to just be happy. Harry Brighouse, an author and professor of philosophy, does a great job in explaining how public schools should educate children in a way that leads to a “flourishing” life (Brighouse, 2008). He believes that schools should change the way they approach education to help students achieve more than academic success. However, the idea that a schools purpose should be to develop students so that

Education is not only for classroom purposes but it extends into the workforce because it is important to make a living. Education should help us appreciate life more by giving us the power to do things and have personal fulfillment. Developing a good education involves problem-solving, creativity, curiosity and criticism. I have learned that it is

“Children are natural born explorers” (Paredes, 2014). They question everything and seek answers to feed their never ending curiosity. As a child, I remember asking my parents what the purpose of school was. I would ask them questions such as Why do I go to school? What happens if I don’t go? and Why was school created? In response, my parents would tell me that school is important because it provides an environment where I can learn, and they would say that without an education, I had no future. They would also say that since all little children go to school, I have to go as well. I never really understood the purpose behind education when I was younger, but nonetheless I continued to go to school and learn and grow simply because going to school, in itself, is considered to be a social norm. Now that I am older, I am able to decipher what the purpose of education is. In fact, education serves multiple purposes. Emile Durkheim and Talcott Parsons both argued that “education is meant to bind members of society together- it creates social unity and solidarity” (Thompson, 2008). While Emile Durkheim proposed this theory, Parsons was able to develop it; he

The purpose of schooling has been misunderstood for many years. Many parents think and understand schooling as a way of equipping their children for the sake of their future careers.

Education is a very important part of society. I feel that it should teach children how to function in a society, and learn the basics they will need to expand on for the rest of their life. I feel that it is used to teach moral, and ethical standards of living. The schools are used to help the children learn to function in life, and achieve the goals of their choosing. Education is important because without it I firmly believe that society would be a very savage institution. With the things that we teach in today’s schools we give the power to know the basics such as reading, writing, and math but we also give them the ability to function in a society. As a teacher I hope to set my student of fire. I want to see them come alive with a desire to want everything that is out there for them. I want to be able to make a difference in just one person’s life. If I can do this I would feel I have done what I am supposed to do. I want my students to know the world is theirs to take and do with it whatever they may choose.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” - Nelson Mandela. Without education, there is simply no telling of what this world would be like. There wouldn’t be doctors, lawyers, businesses etc. Life and everything around us would be fatuous. Schools and education give us a plan in life and help guide us. Throughout the years education has changed tremendously. It had its improvements throughout the decades, and it also has had its falters as well. Education in America is an issue in this country and it definitely needs to be tweaked and improved. Education is what makes us people who we are and what we will be. Nelson Mandela had it right, there is no weapon more powerful than education.

Part of going to school is about learning and getting smarter, even so we cannot rule out is that students are also there to become functional citizens of society. Schools have a task of teaching students how to act like an adult. Once they are out of school, students are released into an endless field of