Education Topic One - What is education?

What is Education?

• Education is the process by which collected knowledge of a culture is passed onto people, usually children.

• In the Uk all children between the ages of 5 - 16 (18 for those born after September 1997) must receive an education.

• However, these children do not necessarily have to go to school, they can be educated at home.

Informal Education

• All societies educate children

• In the past this would have been done by parents in the home, or through normal daily activity.

Formal Education

• Modern societies have highly developed education systems with professional educators who work in institutions and often prepare children for public examinations.

• There is a significant debate about the purpose of education and what essential knowledge should be passed on

• These debates are influenced by the beliefs of the people who are in power and their beliefs about what children should know.  

Reasons for the development of education systems

• Child labour - If children are in school then they are protected from exploitation by employers of child labour,

• Vocationalism - Children can be trained for work and the needs for employers.

• Public health - Children from poorer families can be offered basic nutrition and encouraged to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

• Economic trade - British manufacturing and business requires a trained workforce if it is to maintain its position as a world leader in trade.

• Military capacity - Historically, Britain was a military nation engaged in frequent wars. It required soldiers with a basic education and a good standard of health.

• Training in cultural values - The requirement of schools to promote the well-being and culture of children is explicit in most education legislations.

• Religious reasons -  It was thought that if children could be taught to read the Bible, it would improve their moral behaviour.

Theoretical debates - structal

• Structural theory viewpoints look at education in terms of the role it plays in society rather than the mechanics of how it takes place

• Functionalism:

• Not critical of the education system

• Sees…