The Purpose of Education

The purpose of vocation education is to get a good job; the purpose of education is not, although job training may, in some cases, be contained in some aspects of education.  As one sets out on one's own life path, attention must be given to both.  You can educate yourself by reading extensively, particularly things that you don't agree with or have not experienced.  You can educate yourself by listening to educated people, particularly those that you don't agree with or don't understand.  You can educate yourself by participating in a variety of activities, particularly activities that you aren't accustomed to.

Education is not just for one's self but for society, to broaden one's perspective, to understand others, to learn to appreciate our world and everything in it.  And, more.

If you've always lived in the same place, spend time only with people just like you, go only to the same places you've always gone, do only the things you've always done, you don't know much, and, I'm guessing, you don't like things, people, places, ideas that aren't just like what you're familiar with.

"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest."  Benjamin Franklin

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."  Aristotle

"The goal of education is the advancement of knowledge and the dissemination of truth."  John F. Kennedy

"Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education."  Franklin D. Roosevelt

Beware what you learned, as a child, at home.  Outside what you learned to get along socially, behaviorally; the beliefs, assumptions, biases, prejudices and misconceptions you learned, unconsciously, as a child, are best unlearned.

Good education should open your eyes, your ears, your mind, your heart.  Not everything you are expected to learn in school will be used by you, personally, at some point in your life, but, if you actually pay attention, it will teach you perspective and will break down your assumptions and beliefs.  Life is a great deal more than what personally affects you.  If you pay attention to your education, you'll learn that you are far from being the center of the universe.

Your inner development is another matter....Neither training nor education - nor a great deal of religion, for that matter - addresses one's inner development.  All three are important, in varying degrees, at various times, particularly your inner development.  You're not finished until you draw you last breath.

Just my educated opinion.

All quotes are from BrainyQuote and exact sources are not given.

Copyright, Lorraine I. O'Dell, 2014.  Please cite the source if you quote anything on this blog.  Thank you.