At the start of a new term and academic year, a thought about education:
"Education has for a chief object the formation of character."
Herbert Spencer (1820-1903, philosopher, social theorist and sociologist; from "Social Statics", 1892).
Additional Thought
"It is in the national interest for the higher education process to develop the whole person…The role of higher education was:
• to inspire and enable individuals to develop their capabilities to the highest potential levels throughout life...
• to promote the spiritual, moral and cultural wellbeing of individuals and of society;
• to increase knowledge and understanding for their own sake...
• and to shape a democratic, civilised, inclusive society."
Church of England Board of Education (General Synod Paper GS1567)
The Paper criticised the Government's White Paper 'The Future of Higher Education' (January 2003) for being too narrow. I have only quoted some of the roles of higher eduction above.
27.9.07
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5 comments:
Two very thought provoking comments about education and its wider meaning. Thank you.
Do you think the idea of a university education making a rounded person is lost in the days of universities being a business>
It depends what is implied by 'business'. If 'business' implies education is treated like any other commodity: degrees are bought by students who simply want a passport to a job, then society and individuals loose out. To reach our highest potential is not just about getting a piece of paper. I remember after the first year of my physics degree I thought 'I have learnt a lot about physice, but I have learnt far more about myself.' But we know that industry is looking for this more rounded person and being 'professional' could encompass this. The danger is that most students do not realise this.
I keep reading articles in our student paper about concerns that the pressure on students to work long hours to finance their studies is preventing them from participating in the wealth of 'person forming' opportunities university offers - particularly for courses where experience, usually through voluntary work, is very important for employability. It seems inevitable that money plays a big part in the outcomes of HE these days.
Education has been given such a noble and wonderful implication, but, in reality, now only a few students select education as their course in the university.Many students like to pick the popular subjects,such as computer science,marketing,business.I am a education student.
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