Meaning of Education

Presented

By

Bonny Samanta

Department of Education

P.N.Das College

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Introduction

• Education is a systematic process through which a child or an adult acquires knowledge, experience, skill and sound attitude. It makes an individual civilized, refined, cultured and educated. For a civilized and socialized society, education is the only means. Its goal is to make an individual perfect. Every society gives importance to education because it is a panacea for all evils. It is the key to solve the various problems of life.[1]
• Education has been described as a process of waking up to life:[1]
• Waking up to life and its mysteries, its solvable problems and the ways to solve the problems and celebrate the mysteries of life.[1]
• Waking up to the inter-dependencies of all things, to the threat to our global village, to the power within the human race to create alternatives, to the obstacles entrenched in economic, social and political structures that prevent our waking up.[1]
• – Education in the broadest sense of the term is meant to aid the human being in his/her pursuit of wholeness. Wholeness implies the harmonious development of all the potentialities God has given to a human person.[1]
• – True education is the harmonious development of the physical, mental, moral (spiritual), and social faculties, the four dimensions of life, for a life of dedicated service.[1]

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Etymological Meaning of Education

• In English “Education” has been derived from four Latin words these are –Educare, Educere, Educatum and E-Duco
• Educare:- The term ‘Educare’ means to train or mould or to raise or nourish. In other words, it means that the child beside to be brought up according to certain ends and aim in view.
• Educere:- ‘Educere’ means to lead out or to draw out or “bring forth what is within”. In other words, it means to draw out the latent potentialities of the child.
• Educatum:- ‘Educatum’ denotes the acts of teaching. It throws light on the principles and practice of teaching.
• E-Duco:- It is the combination of two words ‘E’ and ‘Duco’. ‘E’ stands for out of and ‘Duco’ means to draw out or lead out the inner power of man.

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• In India, the concept of education is traced back to the "Gurukula Parampara" which developed in ancient times. Basically, a Guru-Shishya or Teacher-Pupil tradition emphasized the education of the latter in ancient times. Two prominent words in Sanskrit namely, "Shiksha" and "Vidya" also stand out as equivalents of the term "Education". The former has been derived from the root word "Shas" meaning "to discipline" or "to control". .The latter word is derived from the root word "Vid" which means "to know". Therefore, ancient Indian education stressed emphasis on two major aspects in the education of an individual. These arediscipline and knowledge. A learner must be disciplined and develop a curiosity to acquire new knodedge to lead a fruitful life.

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The narrow meaning of Education�

• In its narrow sense, Education means Schooling. Here, Everything is systematic, prefix and predetermined.
• The curriculum, methods of teaching, examination and teacher are prefix and predetermined. It is a systematic process to achieve the definite goals of education through classroom instruction.
• A learner can get proper employment after getting a certificate from these institutions. Overall, we can say that formal education is the narrow view of education.
• To make narrow meaning of education is more clear, the following opinions of the some Educationist are being given-
• John Stuart Mill:– “The culture which each generation purposefully gives to those who are to be its successors, To qualify them for at least keeping up, and if possible for raising the level of the improvement which has been attained”.
• S.S MacKenzie:-“In the narrow sense, education may be taken to mean any consciously directed effort to develop and cultivate our powers”

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• (i) Increase knowledge and skills: Education in the narrow sense is to increase the student's knowledge base and help the student to increase his / her skills by training him / her to adopt some strategies for self-reliance in social life.
• (ii) Degree Achievement: One of the features of this education is that the student is taught to master certain subjects by the experienced faculty in the school and the student acquires degree and certificate through examination.
• (iii) Inactive state of the student: This curriculum of education is decided by the parents, teachers and directors of education. The student has to accept whatever they think is appropriate. Here the student remains inactive.
• (iv) Donor-Recipient: Here the student is like a vacuum and the teacher is a source of perfect knowledge. The teacher will fill the void (student) with this knowledge base. In this narrow sense, the teacher-student relationship is like that of a donor! However, human relations do not develop in such an education system.
• (v) Creativity: Students are born with some creative ability. But in the narrow field of education this creative ability of the student is not given importance. Here only the decision of the teacher or guardian is effective.

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Characteristics of Narrow Meaning of Education

• (vi) Education as per the need: One of them is to impart knowledge to the student according to his need. The importance of this education diminishes when it is no longer needed.
• (vii) Irrevocable and motionless: In narrow education the content remains unchanged and motionless. It does not change in line with the changing society, so this education gradually loses its effectiveness. Education is a religion. It is dynamic, but this narrow learning becomes stagnant in reality, failing to solve the problem. In the light of the above discussion, it can be said that in the narrow sense, the student has no freedom, his creative desire is ignored.

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The Broad Meaning of Education�

• In the broader sense, education is not limited to the four walls of the classroom. It is a lifelong process. It is a modification of behaviour and experience from different means of a source of education.
• It helps one to cope and adjust in changing environment. It equips a private with different knowledge, experiences and skills for his all-round development.
• In a broader sense, life is education and education is life. The experiences gained through the house, temple, church, family, playground, club, society, school includes the broader meaning of education.
• To make a wider meaning of education more clear, the following opinion of some educationist are being given-
• According to Swami Vivekananda– “Education is the manifestation of the divine perfection already existing in man”
• According to Gandhiji-“ By education, I mean an all-round drawing out of the best in child and man-body, mind and spirit”
• John Dewey- “Education in its broader the sense is the means of social continuity”.

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Characteristics of Broader Meaning of Education�

• In the light of the above discussion, several features are observed in the broad sense of education, they are:
• (i) Education is a lifelong process: In a broad sense, education is not limited to a specific period of life; it is an uninterrupted lifelong process. This process continues throughout the student's life.
• (ii) Demand Recognition: In the broadest sense, education does not force the student to do anything; the student's needs are given importance. Students learn according to their needs through self-activism and self-effort.
• (iii) Realistic experience: Students acquire knowledge through realistic experience in this education system. So knowledge acquisition is permanent for the student. This education helps the student in many ways in the next stage of social life.

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• (iv)Compatibility Assistance: Education in the broadest sense helps the student to adjust successfully with this changing world. The student has to adapt to the diverse environment. New behaviors have to be acquired by discarding old habits.
• (v) Social process: In a broad sense, education is a social process. As social beings, human beings move towards achieving social goals through mutual interactions with various elements of the environment. That is why education is called one of the social processes.
• (vi) two way process: Education in a broad sense can be called a two-way process. Here, learning does not become effective through the influence of the teacher; it becomes possible through the interaction between the two.
• In the light of this discussion, it can be said that education is an uninterrupted process. As soon as a child is born, his education begins and continues throughout his life until the last moment of his life.

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Difference Between Narrow and Broad Concept of Education

Narrow concept

• Meaning-Transfer of knowledge and skill. This knowledge and skills are transferred through teachers or books.
• Aim-i) Preparation for future life.

ii) Knowledge about 3’R

iii) Improving mental strength

• Agency- School, family and church
• School Environment- i) Monotonous, the student remains inactive.

ii)Lack of socialization

iii) Unrelated to life.

Broad concept

• Meaning-Education is the process of development, the process of socialization, the process of coherence , the reconstruction of experience.
• Aim-i) To prepare for the future life and to enjoy the present life.

ii) Knowledge of 7 R’s. Reading, writing, Arithmatic, Recreation, Rights and Responsibility, Citizenship, Training.

• Agency- School, family, radio, cinema, press etc.
• School environment-i) Enthusiastic, co-operative active attitude of students.. ii)Socialization is encouraged. iii)Related to life

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Narrow meaning

• Content-Emphasis on various topics, but not a versatile curriculum.
• Status of students-i) Passive listener

ii) Emphasis is placed on specific standards. No emphasis is placed on individual differences

• Teaching Method-i) Group Method

ii) Emphasis is placed on memory.

iii) Verbal instruction and recitation

iv) Classroom work only

• Status of Teacher-i)Protector of rules and regulations like bureaucracy.

ii)The application of psychology is very rare

iii)Afraid of teacher

• Discipline- External discipline. Discipline is regulated by rewards and reprimands

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Brooad meaning

• Content- Different subjects, different activities, multipurpose curriculum
• Status of student-i) Child –centric education. ii) 4A- Age, Aptitude, Ability, Aim
• Teaching method-i) Both individual and group method. ii)Emphasis is placed on thinking, reasoning, discovery, judgment and expression.iii) Education through questions, discussion, debates, work. iv)Travel, library work etc.
• Status of teacher-Friend, philosopher and guide, respects the teacher , know the subject and the student.
• Discipline-Internal discipline, realizing the necessity of discipline, love and empathy are the source of discipline.

DEFINITIONS of EDUCATION

• Since time immemorial, education is estimated as the right road to progress and prosperity. Different educationists’ thoughts from both Eastern and Western side have explained the term ‘education’ according to the need of the hour. Various educationists have given their views on education. Some important definitions are-
• 1.Education means training for the country and live for the Nation- Koutilya
• 2.Education is the realization of self- Sankaracharya
• 3. Education is something which makes man self reliant and selfless.- Rwikveda
• 4. Education means the training which one gets from Nature.-Panini
• 5.The end product of Education is to attain salvation.- Upanishad
• 6. Mahatma Gandhi – “By education I mean an all-round drawing out of the best in man – body, mind and spirit.”
• 7. Rabindranath Tagore – “Education enables the mind to find out the ultimate truth, which gives us the wealth of inner light and love and gives significance to life.”
• 8. Dr. Zakir Husain – “Education is the process of the individual mind, getting to its full possible development.”

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• 9. Swami Vivekananda – “Education is the manifestation of divine perfection already existing in man.”
• 10. Aristotle – “Education is the creation of sound mind in a sound body.”
• 11.. Rousseau – “Education is the child’s development from within.”
• 12. Herbert Spencer– “Education is complete living.”
• 13. Plato – “Education is the capacity to feel pleasure and pain at the right moment.”
• 14. Aristotle – “Education is the creation of a sound mind in a sound body.”
• 15. Pestalozzi – “Education is natural, harmonious and progressive development of man’s innate powers.”
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• 16. Froebel -“Education is enfoldment of what is already enfolded in the germ.”
• 17. T.P. Nunn – “Education is the complete development of the individuality of the child.”
• 18. John Dewey – “Education is the process of living through a continuous reconstruction of experiences.”
• 19.Indira Gandhi – “Education is a liberating force and in our age it is also a democratizing force, cutting across the barriers of caste and class, smoothing out inequalities imposed by birth and other circumstances.”

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Nature of Education

• 1. Education is a life-long process- Education is a continuous and lifelong process. It starts from the womb of the mother and continues till death. It is the process of development from infancy to maturity. It includes the effect of everything which influences human personality.
• 2. Education is a systematic process- It refers to transact its activities through a systematic institution and regulation.
• 3. Education is development of individual and the society- It is called a force for social development, which brings improvement in every aspect in the society.
• 4. Education is modification of behaviour- Human behaviour is modified and improved through educational process.
• 5. Education is purposive: every individual has some goal in his life. Education contributes in attainment of that goal. There is a definite purpose underlined all educational activities.

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• 6. Education is a training- Human senses, mind, behaviour, activities; skills are trained in a constructive and socially desirable way. 
• 7. Education is instruction and direction- It directs and instructs an individual to fulfill his desires and needs for exaltation of his whole personality. 
• 8. Education is life- Life without education is meaningless and like the life of a beast. Every aspect and incident needs education for its sound development.
• 9. Education is continuous reconstruction of our experiences- As per the definition of John Dewey education reconstructs and remodels our experiences towards socially desirable way.
• 10. Education helps in individual adjustment: a man is a social being. If he is not able to adjust himself in different aspects of life his personality can’t remain balanced. Through the medium of education he learns to adjust himself with the friends, class fellows, parents, relations, neighbours and teachers etc.
• 11. Education is balanced development: Education is concerned with the development of all faculties of the child. it performs the functions of the physical, mental, aesthetic, moral, economic, spiritual development of the individual so that the individual may get rid of his animal instincts by sublimating the same so that he becomes a civilized person.

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• 12. Education is a dynamic process: Education is not a static but a dynamic process which develops the child according to changing situations and times. It always induces the individual towards progress. It reconstructs the society according to the changing needs of the time and place of the society. 
• 13. Education is a bipolar process: According to Adams, education is a bipolar process in which one personality acts on another to modify the development of other person. The process is not only conscious but deliberate.
• 14. Education is a three dimensional process: John Dewey has rightly remarked, “All educations proceeds by participation of the individual in the social consciousness of the race.” Thus it is the society which will determine the aims, contents and methods of teachings. In this way the process of education consists of 3 poles – the teacher, the child and the society.
• 15. Education as growth: The end of growth is more growth and the end of education is more education. According to John Dewey, “an individual is a changing and growing personality.” The purpose of education is to facilitate the process of his/her growth.

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Scope of Education

• Philosophy
• Psychology
• Statistics
• Mental Hygiene
• Sociology
• Physiology
• History
• Guidance
• Education-Economics

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• Comparative Education
• Educational Technology
• Evaluation
• Administration and management
• Curriculum
• Teaching method
• Individual differences

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