What Does It Mean to Be Educated?

That is the question being asked by Matthew Jackson (courtesy of the Carnival of Education). I let his words speak for themselves:

There is presently, and has been for many years, controversy over the state of our public education system and its effectiveness in preparing tomorrow’s citizens with the skills necessay to lead productive lives. Our high thinkers and problem solvers have come up with various “solutions” means to ensure that the schools are eaching wha is necessary. State Standards, National Standards, No Child Left Behind, as well as the all-important standardized test all seek to assure us that our children will be prepared for tomorrow. However, in the haste to fix the schools nobody has stopped to consider what it actually means to be educated. Education is a word that we all throw around, but how do you actually define it? Am I educated because I graduated from high school, college, trade school, etc…? Even the most "uneducated" adult knows that learning does not stop upon graduation. Does the word "learn" define education? I would argue not. Learning is the primary means to education.

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Humans, no matter of what political persuasion, argue over so many minute details that really do not matter when one is becoming educated. Education is not found in the facts about names and dates (although names and dates are important); education is found in the individual that uses his or her reasoning power to determine what is the best course of action given his prior experiences and personal temperament. (Know Thyself)

Society, not our schools, lets children down. The schools are a direct result of our society’s value and thoughts of education. In consideration of statements made today about kids rebelling and acting out in school, the reader will likely not like my analysis. Perhaps these kids rebel more because they know more than we give them credit. Perhaps they recognize an act of formality in the public education system that previous generations never recognized. Perhaps they see how scandalous it is that our generations get to determine what they need and do not need to know. Perhaps they see futility in the mire of topical and cheap factual knowledge crammed into their heads.

If one defines society as the adults involved in education, from the Congress, to state legislators and local officials, then yes, society has failed our students and continues to fail our students. However, society is struggling to make it better. Jackson channeled Thomas Jefferson at the start of his post, and I call upon the realization of the Founders as well, "We the People, in order to form a more perfect union...." We are constantly striving to make things better, but we do need to take a step back and think about what "being educated" means.