What is the purpose of education?
It’s a big question. Huge. And SO important to ask. But can we really answer it?
In 1930 Eleanor Roosevelt wrote about how difficult a question it really is. “What is the purpose of education? This question agitates scholars, teachers, statesmen, every group, in fact, of thoughtful men and women.” -Good Citizenship: The Purpose of Education, Pictorial Review.
Well, some major thought leaders have attempted to position the purpose of education over the years.
In 1938 John Dewey wrote that the purpose of education was for students to “develop in an orderly sequential way into members of society”. – Individual Psychology and Education, The Philosopher
In 1948 Martin Luther King, Jr. said “intelligence plus character – that is the true nature of education”.-speech at Morehouse College
In 2013 Diane Ravitch wrote that, “the public education system in a democratic republic is supposed to develop and nurture democratic character and citizenship.”-https://dianeravitch.net/2013/07/04/reflections-on-the-purpose-of-education-and-the-manufactured-crisis/
In 2016 Sir Ken Robinson wrote that there are four main purposes of education: Personal, Social, Cultural, and Economics.-Creative Schools: The Grassroots Revolution That’s Transforming Education
Despite the varying views of the purpose of education – a well accepted and generally uncontested approach to this question is that the purpose of education is to prepare students.
Perhaps the better question is, For What Purpose is Education Preparing Students?
Again, educators can, and have, taken this in different, albeit not always opposing directions
Discipline-Based Approach
The basic idea that each subject has factual information and skills to offer a student.
Standards-Based Approach
The idea that students should work toward mastery of specific knowledge and skills.
21st Century Skills
The idea that deeper, more innovative learning occurs when we focus on the 4 C’s – Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking, and Creativity
The Unknown Future Approach
The idea that jobs that our students will hold in the future don’t exist now – so we must give them the skills to face uncertainty. This approach often ties with engineering, STEAM, and entrepreneurial education.
The Ever-Evolving Society
The idea that, yes, we are preparing our students to be positive citizens of a society – but that society is ever evolving so we must instill the character and skills necessary to navigate what comes.
There are more. So many more. And when you get into each discipline there are so many off-shoots your head will spin.
Here’s the takeaway. Ready?
Major thought leaders throughout history have not been able to develop a singular answer to the purpose of education. It is too complex and there are too many approaches and varying views.
We know that education is designed to prepare students, but for what? A quickly evolving society with major breakthroughs and advances regularly makes it difficult to pinpoint the exact answer.
Most educators can agree right now, today, on certain points
- Education is MUCH more than academics
- Good grades is not the be all, end all purpose of education
- Failure isn’t a bad word anymore – it’s part of learning
- The future is wide-open
The Lingering Question Is…
If we can’t come to a consensus then why keep questioning the purpose of education?
Because it is a question WORTH asking. Even if we can’t agree on an answer. Where would we be if we accepted the way things were a century ago.
Education must progress, change, and grow – and the way it does that is by educators continually reassessing what they are doing, how they are doing it, and where we are going.
Are we destined to circle ideas of citizenship, social progress, character development?
Maybe.
But, that’s okay.
In order for teachers to be resilient they have to feel they can effect change, that they can move the needle forward, and by keeping this question alive does just that.
If you are interested in building resilience Here are some other resources you may want to visit:
The Resilient Teacher’s Timesaving Guidebook
