In your opinion, what is the purpose of an education? by Frazier

In your opinion, what is the purpose of an education? by Frazier - April 2015 Scholarship Essay

The purpose of education is multifaceted. However, I do believe there will be commonalities between individuals answering this question. First, we’ll agree that education is the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge. Secondly, it’s the process of developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and the knowledge, skill, and understanding that you get from attending a school, college, or university. But where individuals will differ in this essay will be their perspective of these definitions and education’s ultimate purpose. The following will detail my opinion.

Initially, when we review the definition for education, we notice the word process. It is for this reason that education must be continuing. The imparting or acquiring of general knowledge doesn’t terminate after high school or college graduation. The impact of education is too prominent to be confined by those standards of achievement. It has to continue. Why? Because the capacity to learn is on-going as well. Education is a continuing process. Our physical capabilities will ultimately slow the act of learning, but the ability will be there until that time.

Next, education must be enhanced. In a school setting, students are classified by grade level. Each grade level should build upon the previous in an effort to grow the knowledge and skill level of the student. Education does not serve its purpose if a student isn’t enhanced during the process. To further establish the point, let’s use mathematics. The four operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) are the building blocks to more challenging concepts such as algebra and calculus. Those building blocks may seem tedious at times, but they prepare us for the next level of math. So too is the purpose of education. It should prepare us for success at the next level.

Finally, education must be applied to our lives. The acquiring of knowledge and skill is only half the battle. I have to be able to use it. This is where I’m able to see why 1+1 equals 2. Education has to be practiced, reviewed, and analyzed. It is active. It has to become personal. I need to know why addition makes sense and then be able to show it through application. It is through application that we see the culmination of acquiring general knowledge. Until education is applied, it is only general knowledge.

As a final point, Bill Beattie is quoted as saying, “The aim of education should teach us rather how to think, than what to think-rather to improve our minds so as to enable us to think for ourselves, than to load the memory with thoughts of other men”. The reasons listed above (education is continuing, it must be enhanced, and it must be applied) and the ending quote form my opinion on the purpose of education.