Definition And Purpose Of Education - 1668 Words

It is perhaps misleading to refer to a singular meaning and purpose of education. Instead, as this essay will show, the meanings ascribed to it vary considerably, dependent on the positionality of the speaker and their sociocultural context. ‘Education’ itself is a highly contested term, and so the answer to the question posed is necessarily a complex one. Educational systems, as part of the structure of a society, derive much of their character from it. They aid in the transmission of knowledge from one generation to the next, reproducing that which the dominant culture finds valuable. Schooling, it can be said, exists more for the benefit of society than for the individual. This cultural reproduction can take a multiplicity of forms within the educational context, ranging from the starkly evident to the subconscious and implicit. However, this theory of purpose is far from a universally accepted one, and alternatives will also be examined here. Sewell (2007), drawing on Wittgenstein’s linguistic theories, suggests that the meaning of ‘education’ is not fixed but contextual; it therefore carries a multiplicity of meanings and cannot be reduced to any one formal definition. This is in keeping with Matheson’s (2004) description of the term as ‘elastic’ and capable of stretching to encompass whichever qualities the speaker’s rhetoric demands. Yet in order for the word to fulfil its function, there must be core commonalities of meaning. One highly influential definition wasShow MoreRelatedThe Definition And The Purpose Of Education1484 Words   |  6 Pagesanalyses the definition and the purpose of education. I first define education as a particularly social activity through the integration from different views. Then I introduce the education in China, in the process of quality education reform, which can be taken as a shift from the utilization of education. The current situation, however, is unsatisfactory and problematic because the reform seems to be just a formality. Partially as a solution to this, I describe the purpose of education to focus onRead MoreA Critical and Rhetorical Analysis of William Cronons Only Connect.1712 Words   |  7 PagesA Liberal Education? Not According to Cronon. A Critical and Rhetorical Analysis of Cronons Only Connect. While the term liberal education is heard from the most prestigious university to an inner city community college, the phrase itself has a hazy definition at best. While educators across America struggle with the definition of the phrase, William Cronon uses purpose, structure, and appeals in his essay Only Connect: The Goals of Liberal education, to define a liberally educated being andRead MoreChallenges of Teaching Students with Emotional/Behavioral Disorders1735 Words   |  7 PagesChallenges of Teaching Students with EBD There are many challenges presented to the education system in teaching students with EBD. Many of these challenges are related to the interpretation of the definition of EBD itself. This paper will address the many challenges of teaching students with EBD including a discussion of the definitions presented to the Federal government for adoption. EBD Definitions The definition of EBD according to IDEA 2004 states that emotional disturbance includes at leastRead MoreIntroduction. Nowadays, There Are More And More People1638 Words   |  7 Pagesdifferent degrees and different ways. It seems that education has become a common word in daily life and it seems to be easy to understand. In fact, education, as a social activity, with a long history of development, a complex and diverse internal structure, interacts with other social activities in multilevel and multifaceted way. Through the long history,educators,thinkers,politicians and scholars have answered the question of what education is in different ways: some see it from the perspectiveRead MoreEducationese Power Point1012 Words   |  5 PagesEducationese Inclusion ï‚› Inclusion places a special needs student in a regular education classroom for the full day or part of the day(Webster). ï‚› Inclusion is good in the classroom so the kids can make friends and feel like they are not being left out. Informal assessment ï‚› An informal assessment is assessing a student in a casual atmosphere using checklists, observation, performance and the student may not even know about it(2014). ï‚› An informal assessment helps a teacher understand what levelRead MoreEssay about Critical Thinking: Evaluation1572 Words   |  7 Pagesof an Academic Source This paper is a summary of critical evaluation of the suitability of an article as an academic source. 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Over the years the judiciary has laid down certain tests and criteria to determine and limit (or as seen later, expand) the scope of the legislationRead MoreEssay on My Personal Philosophy of Education1490 Words   |  6 Pages Philosophy of Education Relating my reasons for becoming a teacher was not a very difficult task for me; to accomplish this task I simply needed to reflect upon and describe some of my own personal experiences. I relied basically upon my memories and thoughts about my own educational experiences. However, describing my philosophy of education was much more difficult task for me to accomplish. First of all, before I could properly describe my philosophy, I realized I needed a workingRead MoreBenefits Of Co Teaching For Students With Special Education1189 Words   |  5 Pages 2004). A student with special needs has the right to a free and appropriate public education. This is mandated under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA 2004). This law also states that a student should be educated in their least restrict environment. Ideally, this would be the general education classroom. Co-teaching was designed to support the needs of students with disabilities in a general education setting. Resea rch studies have shown that co-teaching can be very effective for studentsRead MoreThe National Physical Education Standards Essay888 Words   |  4 Pagesto accomplish a physically healthy lifestyle. Both the National Physical Education Standards(AAHPERD) and the Mississippi Physical Education Frameworks assist educators in designing a curriculum that teaches students about the necessity and fundamentals of physical activity. There are obvious differences and similarities between both educational standards as far as their content and structure goes. However, both the purpose and function of both standards are still analogous. Both standards inform