What is the purpose of education, and what is the most important lesson one should learn?

What's the point of education, anyway? And what's the most important thing we should actually learn? These sound like easy questions, but there's no single right answer because everyone sees things differently.

That said, after really digging into these questions for myself, I've come to believe that how society, as a whole, answers them has huge consequences. In fact, I think it explains why our current education system isn't really teaching us what we need to know to make society better and help it thrive long-term.

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

Ummmmmmmmmmmm depends on what level you are asking about.

IN elementary, obey your teachers, or else.
In highshool, how to lose your virginity.
In college, how to throw the best beer pong parties.

 

[Germinator]

Ummmmmmmmmmmm depends on what level you are asking about.

IN elementary, obey your teachers, or else.
In highshool, how to lose your virginity.
In college, how to throw the best beer pong parties.

actually in 'public' elementary school k to 6th didn't obey my teachers and as a result for 7th to 12th grade parents sent me to 'catholic' school where I still managed to find myself in trouble w/ 'teacher authority figures' because I didn't always 'obey'

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

actually in 'public' elementary school k to 6th didn't obey my teachers and as a result for 7th to 12th grade parents sent me to 'catholic' school where I still managed to find myself in trouble w/ 'teacher authority figures' because I didn't always 'obey'

Well, I never attended a catholic school so I never learned about the sins of sex, abortion, or masturbation.

 

[Germinator]

Well, I never attended a catholic school so I never learned about the sins of sex, abortion, or masturbation.

Too bad ya missed out, catholic school gave me a head start on the 'sins of the flesh' curriculum

 

[j brown's body]

"Education should train the child to use his brains, to make for himself a place in the world and maintain his rights even when it seems that society would shove him into the scrap-heap." - Helen Keller

 

[Germinator]

"Education should train the child to use his brains, to make for himself a place in the world and maintain his rights even when it seems that society would shove him into the scrap-heap." - Helen Keller

Your character icon just reminded me of the "Odorama" from John Waters' 1981 film,... which I thought was hilarious

Anyway my point is of starting this thread is,... why is there so much emphasis on gender diversity and equity stuff in elementary schools in my home town of San Diego and across California, but students barely learn anything about climate change

 

[Sweden]

What's the point of education, anyway? And what's the most important thing we should actually learn? These sound like easy questions, but there's no single right answer because everyone sees things differently.

That said, after really digging into these questions for myself, I've come to believe that how society, as a whole, answers them has huge consequences. In fact, I think it explains why our current education system isn't really teaching us what we need to know to make society better and help it thrive long-term.

The purpose of education is to question everything and to understand that everything that people, especially teachers. tell you may be wrong.

 

[Integrityrespec]

What's the point of education, anyway? And what's the most important thing we should actually learn? These sound like easy questions, but there's no single right answer because everyone sees things differently.

That said, after really digging into these questions for myself, I've come to believe that how society, as a whole, answers them has huge consequences. In fact, I think it explains why our current education system isn't really teaching us what we need to know to make society better and help it thrive long-term.

Everybody sees the posted speed limit differently also.
When you start in with "making society better" that's really a matter of opinion and those differ greatly. Using the schools for to advocate for social agenda causes lots of problems.

 

[Integrityrespec]

First, I'd say the basics. 3R's, reading, writing, rithmatic. Second I'd say history, government and civics would be next. Teaches who we are, were we came from, how we got to what we are as a nation. Can't know where you are going without understanding where you have been. After that it's more academics. Things that improve you ability to prosper and things that make you more capable of taking care of yourself.

 

[j brown's body]

Everybody sees the posted speed limit differently also.
When you start in with "making society better" that's really a matter of opinion and those differ greatly. Using the schools for to advocate for social agenda causes lots of problems.

My fondest memory of early education is arguing with my 6th grade teacher about politics- the war in Vietnam and civil rights were big at the time.

It motivated me to learn and study more.

In my teaching career, I came across many teachers who were praised for keeping their political views from their students. I disagree. Arguing politics is an effective way to get students to think. I developed close relationships with students who disagreed with me. We had a lot of laughs and learned to understate one another better.

 

[Integrityrespec]

The nice thing about history in school, you can legitimately discuss just about any and everything. It opens the door for lots of discussion. The one thing that's important is to be able to support your position with more than just feelings. Not that feelings don't have their place in some peoples decision. So topic would be important.

 

[j brown's body]

The nice thing about history in school, you can legitimately discuss just about any and everything. It opens the door for lots of discussion. The one thing that's important is to be able to support your position with more than just feelings. Not that feelings don't have their place in some peoples decision. So topic would be important.

Teachers are being increasingly repressed when it comes to the free and fair exchange of ideas.

 

[Integrityrespec]

it's always been that way. That's why history seems to afford more latitude. Hard to talk about reproductive rights in math class. Or religion in auto mechanics.

 

[j brown's body]

it's always been that way. That's why history seems to afford more latitude. Hard to talk about reproductive rights in math class. Or religion in auto mechanics.

Interesting to think of all the generations that were taught the Lost Cause myth as though it were fact.

 

[Slartibartfast]

To produce as many STEM experts as we possibly can in order to have our country compete against others in an increasingly technological world. A close second is for people to learn how to learn on their own through the use of critical thinking skills.

 

[Integrityrespec]

Interesting to think of all the generations that were taught the Lost Cause myth as though it were fact.

Any way you cut it, the question of slavery, the peculiar institution, is the underlying cause of the civil war. Whether one wants to claim #1 as a state's right issue or be up front and just come out and declare, slavery is the fuel to the fire. Every other cause is there but all relied upon the institution of slavery. I never thought is was any other way. Even among those who said it was states rights, what did they actually say? Well, it was the states right to determine the fate of slavery. Uhhhh???