Education the up righteousness of a society

Posted on August 21, 2017 by the Editor

By Adrole Yelstine. Adrole, 28, is a former student at the International Institute of Business and Media Studies where he completed his Diploma in Journalism in 2016. He lives in Kampala,Uganda.

Education is defined in the dictionary as an activity of acquiring knowledge through instructions or teachings. The bible in 2nd timothy 3:15-16 says “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scripture, which are able to make thee wise.” One should also say that it encompasses both the teaching and learning of knowledge, proper conduct and technical competency. It thus focuses on the cultivation of skills, trades or professions as well as mental, moral and aesthetic development. Education has two parts i.e. the formal and informal education. The formal education starts right from Nursery, Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, or University level. This is why many parents prefer send their children to schools who, after ending those levels, they are qualified to become professionals in the various fields of Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Pilots etc.

While informal education is a general term for education that can occur outside of a structured curriculum, it encompasses students’ interests within a curriculum in a regular classroom. However it is not limited to that setting, it works through conversation and the exploration and enlargement of experience. Sometimes there is a clear objective link to some broader plan;but not always. The goal is to provide learners with the tools she or he needs to eventually reach more complex material. It can refer to various forms of alternative education such as unschooling, or home schooling, autodidacticism (self-teaching), youth work and informal learning.

In an article published in the media by Mr. James M on January 28th 2009 it was argued that education broadens one’s mind. ”It seems to me [education] gets used in a couple of ways. One sense is to expand the breadth of knowledge that one has or to explore a new field of knowledge. Another sense is to become more aware and accepting of points of view other than one’s own.”

It should also be noted that functionalist theory says education prepares children for the world of work. It helps them to develop their personal talents, discover who they are and provides skills and socialization.

Literature works in the news (published on October 31st 2016) says that the more we read, the more enlightened we become. Gaining knowledge empowers our minds and broaden its range. Similarly, literature in the news (published on August 25th 2016) states that reading broadens our imagination by stimulating the right side of our brain. It literally opens our minds to new possibilities and new ideas helping us experience and analyse the world through other lives.

Neuroscientists at Emory University discovered that reading fiction can improve brain function on a variety of levels. They found that becoming engrossed in a novel enhances connectivity in the brain and improves brain function. Reading fiction was found to improve the reader’s imagination in a way that is similar to muscle memory in sports.Lead Emory researcher Gregory Berns concluded that, ” At a minimum we can say that reading stories, especially those with strong narrative arcs, re configures brain networks for at least a few days. It shows how stories can stay with us. This may have profound implications for children and the role of reading in shaping their brain.”

In another development, a press release from Cambridge University by one Thomas George in 2014, discussed the founder and the idea of the National University constituting the American mind.

Also, an article was published by one Carl Bereiter on amazon (May 13th 2002) entitled ‘Education and mind in the knowledge age’. In this book, Carl Bereiter – a distinguished and well known cognitive education psychologist- presents what he calls ” a new way of thinking about knowledge and the mind”. He argues that in today’s knowledge age, education’s conceptual stools are inadequate to address the pressing educational challenges and opportunities of the times. He adds that two hinges are required. First is to replace the mind as container metaphor with one that envisions a mind capable of sustaining knowledgeable. intelligent behavior without actually containing stored beliefs.Second is to recognize a fundamental difference between knowledge building and learning -both of which are essential parts of education for the knowledge age. Connectionism, in cognitive science, addresses the first need. Certain developments in post positivist epistemology addresses the second.

The author explores both the theoretical bases and the practical educational implications of this radical change in view point. The book draws on current new ways of thinking about knowledge and mind. This includes information processing, cognitive psychology, situated cognition, constructiveness and connectionism, but does not adhere strict to any ”camp”. Above all, the author is concerned with developing a way of thinking about the mind that can usher education into the knowledge age. The book was intended to get straight to the point.

In a related development, Professor Howard Gardner (a professor of cognition and education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education who has authored over twenty (20) books and several hundred scholarly articles) in an interview with ‘Mind Matters’ editor Jonah Lehrer on his recent book, entitled ”Five minds for future” says that it offers some advice for policy makers on how to do a better job of preparing students for the 21st Century.

In nut shell, education trains students not only for white collar jobs but also broadens their mind to fit in a society.

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82 comments on “Education the up righteousness of a society”

  2. OKUMU Godwin on

    Now in African education system there is need for leaders to start putting more emphasis on technical education if we are to get rid of problem of un employment in-our society. this is because now days many youths after under going formal education system ,they end up remaining on the streets of towns so for me the best way to go is by revising technical education system. so I thank Adrole yelstine for bringing up all issues in education in his article

    Reply
  4. Lekuru Annet on

    Well researched article congratulations adrole for your story I real admire the way you write it .its true reading fix ions can real change one’s brain
    thank you alot

    Reply
  5. Candiru Proscovia on

    its true that we have two forms of education i.e formal and informal to me both of these two forms of education do help in bringing up achild or student to fit in an organised society as both teach the likes and dislikes .

    thanks adrole for the article

    Reply
  6. Salama Alli on

    The topic alone has taught about the whole essay .education the righteousness of a society. this is real what opens the yes of the public . for example an illiterate person can will need to be guided on issues which he or she does’nt know. so in a nut cell I mean without one attaining formal education may be upto tertiary level he can’t work in an office. so i do agree with the writer.

    Reply
  7. Nalwadda Nsangi on

    Congs for your article it has made me to remember the days I use to write while still a student .
    thank you very much.

    Reply
  8. Oroma Prisca on

    I like your way of writing the story especially where you quoted an article from Neuro scientists from the University of Emory where reading improves brain functions.
    thank you alot for the article

    Reply
  16. Kavule Vicent on

    I have real do agree with you on your quotation on functionalist theory where you stated that education prepares students to develop their personal talents,discover who they are and provides skills and socialization.
    thanks adrole

    Reply
  17. Achiro Jacky on

    Adrole .this is very wonderful work I do appreciate .except that our leaders should address the issue of un employment which is now hitting the youth in education syllabus by either introducing practical lessons for students in schools.
    thanks

    Reply
  19. Elema Robert on

    How do educationists identify and nature the students in upbringing them in their talents which to me should be one of the thing education system in Africa should address.
    thanks adrole for the article

    Reply
  21. Nankanja Prossy on

    Thanks bro for this essay.education is truly the socializing factor for a society for example .when one joins school,he /she will be able to get new friends ,share knowledge hence broadening the mind.

    Reply
  22. Candia steven on

    In fact I enjoyed reading this recommendable piece of work . your arguments with examples, worthy noting. therefore,education should not only train students for white collar jobs but to fit in a society.this is the main importance of education that is according to me.
    thank you for your article

    Reply
  26. Stephen Keronga on

    Good article on Education. it gives the insight of the real understanding of what education is and whether it is relevant to the society.
    I recommend Yeltsin for the Nomination.

    Reply
  27. Okudi Martin on

    Society is because of the elite class of people who should tell them what to do particularly the illiterate class of people . thanks Adrole for the article especially the topic which says education the up righteousness of a soceity

    Reply
  29. Oduti david on

    Adrole I real like your article you use your journalistic approach to write this essay where its balanced, accurate,as it touches both the mind and socialization.
    thanks.

    Reply
  32. byara8 on

    waoo wonderful essay .this is what it means writing article which should be from researched point of view. for this case , i do appreciate the way you wrote it . thanks adrole

    Reply
  33. nelson bwire on

    congratulations man. I admire your way of writing as it touches the evolution of education in the world .nursery , primary secondary up to tertiary levels .
    thanks

    Reply
  35. ERIMA CHARLES on

    The article has caught my eye because of its interesting nature.which you have real highlighted in the article .now what i would like to put in this essay is that let the education curriculum of African education be changed ie. from formal education to technical education so that the issue of youth un employment be solved.
    thank you adrole

    Reply
  37. Nanono Irene on

    Bravo man .this is very interesting essay .precise, balanced, accurate it real portrays your true journalistic way of writing a story.

    Reply
  40. Nsubuga Paul on

    infact I enjoyed reading this piece of article .congratulations adrole it has remind me of how we use to write essays while in primary and secondary level. except that it differs in your ways of research. its very marvourlous

    Reply
  41. Bakanyeza Henry on

    Waooo brother. out of the whole article itself, the last paragraph where you stated that educations trains students not only for white collar jobs but also prepares them to fit in a society has real caught my eye.
    conguratulations

    Reply
  43. Ozimati Joachim on

    Friend adrole. you have real hit the nail on the head.where you tackled the broadening of the mind ,preparation for future,and socialization.
    thanks alot for the article

    Reply
  46. balinda david on

    Nice piece of article .it has broaden my knowledge how i can do my own research on a topic. before its published.
    thanks adrole yelstine

    Reply
  47. Clement Aluma on

    Man this is good.the vocabularies you have used in your article has taught me another lesson to learn.
    congratulation for the article

    Reply
  51. waibi Patrick on

    Honest speaking your article is worthy, very incredible piece of work where you left nothing un touched in your essay.its true education trains students not only for white collar job but it broadens their mind how to socialise with the public. thank you very much . adrole.

    Reply
  52. Agama Nelson on

    waooo I like your quotation of literature in the news published on 25th august 2016 which states that reading broadens our imaginations by stimulating the right side of our brain .it opens our mind to new possibilities.
    thank you adrole for your wonderful work.

    Reply
  59. Batre Ronald on

    Adrole this reminds me of research we use to carry out while still in higher learning institutions. its very wonderful i appreciate it.
    thank you for sparing your time to bring out all these knowledgeable ideas for us to benefit from .
    thank you once more.

    Reply
  62. Robert Ariaka on

    After I have read through this article, I just thought of the knowledge ,idea the author has that has made him to come out with such wonderful article.
    very interesting indeed. God bless you adrole

    Reply
  63. Kinyaa Rufina on

    waoo very wonderful and interesting piece of work.i real do recommend it for public use . thanks adrole for sharing you idea and knowledge with the world .thanks again.

    Reply
  67. Moses Kidandi on

    Iike your article for its educative points and recommends it for its researched points you have brought out.
    thanks adrole

    Reply
  70. odoobo bichachi on

    adrole your quotation of Carl Bereiter in your article that appeared on amazon on 13th may 2002 on education where it states that in today’s knowledge age,education conceptual-tools are in adequate to address the pressing educational challenges and opportunities of the times has real highlighted the truth.I do agree with you.
    thank you very much for the article.

    Reply
  72. Namara Tinah on

    adrole this article is very wonderful from the educational point of view .because in your article you highlighted the areas of education and how important it can be to a student first of all , education can broaden one’s mind I.e when you read alot of books and secondly it can make one get job and thirdly the issue of socialization .this is for example when achild joins nursery school, she or he will be able to meet new friends and starts to socialize with them.
    thanks alot

    Reply
  74. Nambi Harriet on

    After reading through your article . it forced me to go and read about some of your quotations to prove whether they are facts but only to find that it is some thing very enjoyable to read from researched point of view .
    congratulations yelstine adrole. for sharing you Idea with the worls

    Reply
  77. Hannington Muluta on

    This idea of adrole can be used by other researchers to develop their own theories in writing an article .because he takes time to develop this idea by combining very many authors in his article and comes out with facts ,and the whole essay flows as if it was arraigned.
    thanks alot dear.

    Reply
  78. Francis Kagolo on

    I do recommend this article for an award as its the most researched article I have so far seen in this competition because of its uniqueness.
    Adrole keep it up

    Reply
  81. Mark Byaruhanga on

    waooo. good job for bringing up all related ideas in education together to make your essay flow. in a balanced way ie. knowledge, mind and socialization. including job.
    thanks keep up

    Reply

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