Schools should educate people rather than give knowledge

It is difficult to overestimate the role of education in modern society. Some people think that the purpose of education is to teach a student how to live his life by developing his mind and equipping him to deal with lots of information. Moreover, he has to be taught to think, to understand, to prove. Other people say that the aim of education should be to teach people rather how to think, than what to think; rather to improve people’s minds, than to load one’s memory with the thoughts of other men.

The first thing I would like to consider is that the main aim of education nowadays is not to cram the child's brain with useful information, but to teach him high-order thinking skills through making decisions and choices. Besides children must not only be introduced to science, statistics and computers but taught that communicating what they know and using it practically are as important as knowledge itself. A report must be a joyful discovery but not a boring obligation.

On the other hand, some people think that the purpose of secondary education can be to give substantial knowledge in many different school subjects and to prepare for higher education. More than that, to go to a higher educational institution, all applicants are required to pass the State exam on the subjects they choose, and then submit the results to the appropriate institution where they will be considered for the enrolment. That’s why these people claim that the curriculum should squeeze the minority subjects like Music, Art, Physical Training lessons and extras like a second foreign language as they distract from preparing to the State exams.

I cannot agree with the above opinion as these people fail to understand that school must stir the curiosity and creativity of a child, but not grow up an obedient robot. They must be made aware of grammar but not bombarded with stodgy terms. In addition, the aim of the National Curriculum was to provide a more balanced education. The chief elements of the national Curriculum include a broad and balanced framework of study which emphasizes the practical applications of knowledge. It is based around the core subjects of Russian, mathematics and science (biology, chemistry, etc.) as well as a number of other foundation subjects, including geography, history, technology and modern languages. The new curriculum places greater emphasis on the more practical aspects of education. Skills are being taught which pupils will need for life and work.

To sum up, whatever career you choose, getting an appropriate education is the only way to become successful. Despite many school activities the focus is on preparing for the subjects that will be taken at the entrance exams. I strongly believe that the aim of education in general is to develop to the full the talents of both children and young adults for their own benefit and that of society as a whole. It is a large-scale investment in the future of our country.