Meaning and Nature of Education
Meaning of Education
Education is the fundamental means of human development. By it the innate powers of human beings are developed, their knowledge and skills are enhanced, their behaviour is changed and they are made civilized and cultured citizens. And this task begins right from the birth of man. Just a few days after the birth of the child, his parents and other members of the family start to teach him to hear and to speak. When he grows a little more, he is taught the methods of sitting, standing, moving, eating and social conduct. When he attains the age of three-four years, he is taught how to read and write. At this age, he is also sent to school. In the school, his education is organized in a very proper manner. Besides the school, he is also taught in his family and community. And this practice of teaching-learning continues even after the child leaves the school, and it goes on over the whole life. If we see it in its extensive form, the process of education in the society continues forever. In its real sense, the purposeful process of teaching and learning that goes on forever in the society is education.
The etymological meaning of education
The etymological meaning of education is just the same. By it is meant the process of teaching and learning. The word 'education' has been derived from the Latin word "educatum', which is made by the joining of 'e' and 'duco'. 'E' means 'from inside' and 'duco' means 'to proceed forward' So, the word 'education' implies 'expression of internal faculties of the child towards outside'
In analyzing the form of education, the chief role has been played by philosophers, sociologists, political scientists, economists, psychologists and scientists. Here is a brief description of their view points.
Philosophical Concept of Education
Man is the focal point of philosophers. They attempt to know the real form of man and to determine the ultimate aim of his life. The philosophers are also interested in determining the means for the attainment of ultimate aim of human life, and they consider education as necessary for their knowledge and training. Thus, in the viewpoint of philosophers, education is a means of attaining the ultimate aim of human life.
According to Jagadguru Shankaracharya :
"Sa vidya ya vimuktaya. (Education is what emancipates.)"
The Indian philosopher Swami Vivekananda has considered man as perfect by birth and has laid emphasis on enabling him to experience this perfection with the help of education.
In his words : "Education is manifestation of perfection already present in man."
Mahatma Gandhi has laid equal emphasis on the development of all the three aspects of man body, mind and soul.
In his words : "By education I mean an all-round drawing out of the best in child and man-body, mind and spirit."
According to the Greek philosopher Plato : "Education consists in giving to the body and soul all the perfection to which they are susceptible."
Plato's pupil, Aristotle has defined education in the following way : "Education is the creation of a sound mind in a sound body."
Sociological Concept of Education
The focal point of sociologists is society. They see and understand the individual in the context of society. They consider education as the means of development of the individuals and of the society. They have divulged the following facts regarding the nature of education :
1. Education is a Social Process: The sociologists have clarified that when social interaction takes place between two or more people they are influenced by each other's language, thoughts and conduct. The process of this influence is called learning. and when this task is done with certain aims in view, it is called education.
2. Education is a Continuous Process: The education continues forever in the society. Man's education begins a few days after his birth and continues right up to the end of his life. The members of the society continue to exhaust, but its education process goes on generation after generation. It does never take a rest. Thus, continuity is its second feature.
3. Education is a Bipolar Process: Sociologists have clarified that in the process of education, one influences and the other is influenced. So it is clear that education is a bipolar process. According to them, the two poles of education are the one that influences (teacher) and the other that is influenced (pupil). The American educationist John Dewey too has considered two poles of education one, psychological and the other social. By psychological aspect he means the interest, aptitude and ability of the learner, and by the social aspect he means his social environment.
4. Education is the Process of Development: The innate behaviour of man a slike an animal Education is used to amend and mould his behaviour. If we look art with a wider viewpoint main secures his experiences with the help of education and hands them over to the next generation. On the basis of this knowledge, the next generation gies further and adds to it its own experiences and thoughts. Thus, the social con and culture develop. It is not possible in the absence of education. It is clear that education is a process of development. We should understand one thing here that each creature in the world learns to eat and speak, etc while being in the company of his like beings by imitating them and following them.
5. Education is a Dynamic Process: By education man effects continuous development in his civilization and culture. For this development, one generation transfers its knowledge and skill to the next generation. For this transfer, each society makes arrangement of school education. So, the aims, curriculum and teaching methods of specific school education are generally definite But as the changes occur in the society, education accepts those changes and moves forward. Thus, its aims, curriculum and teaching methods etc. change according to the needs of the society. This is its dynamism. If education would have not been dynamic, we could have not proceeded on the path of development.
Political Concept of Education
The focal point of political scientists is the state and its political system they look and understand the individual and society, both in the context of state and its political system. They consider education as the means of nation building. A nation is built with able citizens and able citizens are made by education. In their view : Real education is that which makes able citizens.
Economic Concept of Education
The basic point of economists is economic resources and systems. They think and understand all human activities in the context of economy They accept education as a productive activity. In their view, education besides being an object of consumption, it is also a component of production. The results of researches show that the productive capability and organisational ability of an educated man is comparatively more than an uneducated man, and it is so much more that the additional benefit accruing from it is much more than the expenditure done on his education. So, the economists accept education in the form of economic investment. In their view :
Education is an economic investment by which the production and organisational skills of an individual are developed and thus, the productive capability of the individual, society and that of nation is increased and their economic development is effected.
Psychological Concept of Education
By this point of Indian Yoga psychology is man's outer form and inner-solf both. In his external form, it studies his organs of action and perception, and in his inner-self, it studies his consciousness (mind, intellect and ego). In its view : Education is the training of external organs and inner-self of man.
The western psychologists give importance the body, mind and behaviour of man. They have not been able to discover the basic components of his inner-self mind. intellect and ego as yet. In their viewpoint, man is a psycho-physical creature who takes birth with certain innate faculties and his development depends on these faculties themselves. So education should effect the development of these faculties first.
Pestalozzi opines : "Education is a natural, harmonious and progressive development of man's innate powers."
Froebel has defined : "Education is a process by which a child makes its internal external."
Scientific Concept of Education
The focal point of scientists is the physical world and its objects and activities They look at any object or activity objectively. As far as the innate faculties of man are concemed, they are in agreement with psychology, however, so far as it relates to human behaviour, they accept the sociological facts. They accept education as a means of development of the inner faculties in accordance with outer life.
In the words Herbert Spencer : "Education means establishment of coordination between the inherent powers and the outer life."
The True Concept of Education
Education is that continuous and purposeful social process by which the innate powers of man are developed, his knowledge and skills are enhanced, his behaviour is changed and he is made a civilized and cultured citizen. By it the Individual and society both develop continuously.
This definition of education is complete in itself. It clearly describes the nature of education (that it is a purposeful, social, continuous, dynamic and developmental process) and its functions (that by it the innate powers of man are developed, his knowledge and skills are enhanced, his behaviour is changed and he is made a civilized and cured citizen). In making an individual a civilized and cultured citizen, all the aims and functions of education of any society are included. So this definition of education should be acceptable to all
Wider and Narrower Meanings of Education
We know that the education of a child in a society goes on in the family, in the small and big social groups, community centres and different types of schools, colleges and universities. However, some people term only the education conducted in schools, colleges and universities as education. Thus, education is used in its two forms in its wider form and in its narrower form.
Wider Meaning of Education
We know that when man takes birth, he is in a very helpless state, but he starts to learn by imitating his fellow beings and gradually learns different types of activities. then He learns the first lesson in the lap of his mother and then learns in his family nady environment and then in other social groups. The civilized societies arrange schools for the proper development of their children and to bring about desirable change in their behaviour. But the children also learn at other places besides the schools. And the truth remains that the process of teaching-learning continues even after they leave schools and it goes on lifelong. In its extensive sense, this lifelong continuous teaching- learning process is education. The aims, curriculum and teaching methods of this education are very wide, they cannot be limited, but they all are progressive.
In the words of J.S. Mackenzie : "In wider sense, it is a process that goes on throughout life and that is prometed by almost every experience in life."
In its wider sense, education is that continuous and purposeful social process by which the innate powers of man are developed, his knowledge and skills are enhanced, his behaviour is changed and he is made a civilized and cultured citizen. By it the individual and society both develop continuously.
Narrower Meaning of Education
In the words of J.S. Mackenzie : "In narrower sense, it may be taken to mean any consciously directed efforts to develop and cultivate our powers."
Most of the scholars are in agreement with this definition of education in its narrower sense, but it does not provide a clear cut knowledge of the form of education and of its outcome. In our view, education in its narrower sense should be defined as follows
In its narrower sense, education is that purposeful social process which is conducted in a society at a definite time and at definite place (schools) in an organized way and by which the innate powers of man are developed, his knowledge and skills are enhanced, his behaviour is changed and he is made a civilized and cultured citizen. By it, the individual and society both develop continuously.
Nature of Education
The nature of education has been basically discussed by philosophers, sociologists, political scientists, economists, psychologists and scientists. From their viewpoint, the following facts can be divulged regarding the nature of education :
(1) Education is a social process. It has three factors chiefly learner, teacher and teaching-learning material or activity.
(2) Education is a continuous process.
(3) Education is a purposeful process; its aims are determined by the society and are progressive by nature. Thus, education is a process of development.
(4) In its wider sense, the subject-matter of education is very extensive, it cannot be delimited, but in its narrower sense, its subject-matter is limited to definite curriculum In both the senses, this is helpful in the development of the individual and of the society.
(5) In its wider sense, its methods are very extensive, but in its narrower sense, they are almost definite.
(6) The form of education of a society depends on several factors, such as-its religion, philosophy, culture, political system, economic system and progress in science and technology etc.
(7) It is evident from the above facts that with the change in the religion, philosophy, culture, political system, economic system, and science and technology of the society the form of its education too changes. Thus, the nature of education is dynamic.
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