What is ‘Education’? What is its primary purpose, and what is not? Which approaches support it, and
At which levels of cognition? So many basic questions that many of our ‘trained teachers’, among
Others, ask. And very few to discuss the limited responses they have found so far. Therefore, the need for a book of this kind, on basic concepts and introductions to various relevant theories, was felt.
The term ‘education’ is a very common and a popular word that is uttered by many of us but understood by a very few in its right perspective. It is in one way or the other appears to be as old as the human race, though during the course of time, its meaning and objectives have inevitably undergone certain changes. As a student of education course, and, as a future teacher, it is essential for you to understand the meaning of education, its conceptual features and different perspectives that have shaped its meaning from time to time. Understanding the concept of education and its dynamic features will help you to develop insights about the purpose of becoming a teacher and help you while educating your students.
This chapter analyses different perspectives and views of Indian and western thinkers on education.
The contemporary meaning of education is discussed here from analytical viewpoints. Education as a natural and a social process and education as an intentional activity are discussed with suitable illustrations. The different processes of education and understanding the role and the need of institutions in educating the individuals are also examined by drawing relevance to school context.
Objectives
After going through this chapter, you will be able to:
• Analyses various perspectives and views on the concept of education.
• Explain the concept of education as an initiation in the western and eastern perspectives.
• Explain the concept of education as a worthwhile activity in the context of school education.
• Understand the dimensions of education and their relevance.
• Understand the role and the need of institutions in educating the individuals
What Is Education?
You are, by now, familiar with the term ‘education’, ‘educated person’ ‘educating’ and so on. You must have also used these terms on several occasions in conversation with others. What do we mean by education? Does ‘teaching’ or ‘instructing’ become education? Or is it learning in an institution?
Does developing the child into good human being known as education? Is it possible to have one meaning of education? There are many more such questions that come to our mind when we attempt to understand the concept of education.
The term ‘education’ has been interpreted by different people in different ways. Some people refer to it as formal schooling or to lifelong learning. Some others refer to it as acquisition of knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Some say that education is nothing, but training of people’s mind in a particular direction to bring about desired changes. If you ask a statesman, an artisan, a teacher, a parent, a philosopher and a student about what education means to them, you would be surprised to know the multiple interpretations and views people have about education.
You must be logged in to post a comment.