Role of Education in Human Life

This essay explores the aim of education, the role of teachers and students, and the desired knowledge, skills, traits, and relationships in a pluralist liberal democracy. It also presents the author's educational philosophy.

Running head: HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY
History and Philosophy
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY
Education plays a very vital in the lives of human beings. It is a systematic process by
means of which a child attains the required knowledge, skills, experience and attitudes to
make himself a better person (Fitzsimons, 2017). In this essay I shall elaborate on pointing
out the main aim of education in our lives, the role that a teacher plays in this process and the
role of student in their own learning process. Also, the kind of knowledge, skills, character
traits, and relationships should education focus on developing in a pluralist liberal democracy
would be assessed. With the same, I shall present a reflective piece on what my educational
philosophy look like when put into practice and the kinds of practices, community, and
relationships does my philosophy foster.
Aim of education
Education is a systematic and a lifelong process. It starts right from when a baby is in
the womb of his mother and it does continue throughout his life, till his death. It includes
everything that influence the personality of a human being (Berkhout et al., 2018). There are
several conflicting ideas regarding the aims of education presented by different scholars and
researchers. For instance, in the colonies of New England, the main purpose of education was
preparing children to read bible so that they can seek salvation. On the other hand, as per
Buckingham (2017), the main aim of education is to provide the children with all the
necessary academic skills and knowledge so that they can be well-prepared for their post-
secondary education as well as for the workforce. This aim is one among the most agreed
aims of education. Duckworth & Yeager (2015) on the other hand, have opined that the aim
of education is training the students for being responsible citizens and preparing them for
their adulthood by means of socialising them within the values and norms of society like
honesty, patriotism, competitiveness, cooperation and the moral responsibility. Similarly,
Palei (2015) have claimed that the main aim of education is providing economic
competitiveness. As per him, education helps in providing the students with the knowledge

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and skills that are required for being competitive in the global economy and becoming an
efficient and effective workforce and at the same time, preparing the workers with the
socialisation and values required in the workplaces by means of developing the attitudes like
cooperation, punctuality an following the rules and regulations. However, I think, the main
aim of education is developing valuable personality and spiritual individuality. The true aim
of it cannot be other than the highest and greatest development of an individual as a member
of society and a citizen of country.
Role of teacher
The role of a teacher is way more than just planning lesson plans and executing them.
Their roles are significantly different as compared to what they used to be in earlier days.
Earlier, teachers were once issued a particular curriculum for teaching as well as a set of
instructions on how to teach the same by means of using same type of methods for all the
students (Tatto, Richmond & Carter Andrews, 2016). However, in contemporary world, the
role of a teacher is multifaceted. Their main job today has become consoling students and
helping them in learning the ways of using their knowledge and integrating it into their lives
so that they can establish themselves as valuable members of the society. Today, teachers
world-wide are encouraged for adapting the different methods of learning to every individual
learning of the students, to challenge them and at the same time, inspire them for learning.
Furthermore, it is also to mention that the contemporary teaching profession is all
about taking on the broader roles for promoting the education. Today, teachers are often see
as working with the colleagues, politicians and the members of the community for setting an
obtainable and clear standards for the students (Kohli & Pizarro, 2016). The also participate
in the process of decision making and this helps them in dealing with the issues that influence

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the learning of the students. With the same, teachers today are also seen as mentoring the new
teachers so that they can be well-prepared to teach the modern youths.
Role of student
Students play very small yet notable role in the process of governing and defining the
system of schools that educate them. Through preparing them for their future is actually the
main point, it is agreed that it is the adults who run the whole show and students are required
to stay focused on the learning process. However, students play a significant role as the
official participants (Perry, 2018). They play their part in the operation and the improvement
of their respective schools. They serve on the school site councils and at the same time, have
the potential of serving on the committees for their school district as well. Ample of school
boards comprise of the students to warrant a small specialised track at the annual conference
of School Board Association. Furthermore, it is also to note that majority of the students
serve as advisors having “preferential” vote. Also, they work as spectators in the process of
decision making regarding their schools, without any type of formal role in the process of
making them. Moreover, it is also to mention in this context that there are students who keep
the potential of influencing the legislations as well, but it seems to happen very rarely. They
face certain practical obstruction in making participation in their education policy.
Desired knowledge, skills, traits and relationships
In the contemporary pluralist liberal democracy, education should focus on certain
kind of knowledge, skills, character traits, and relationships. In the modern world, education
should focus more on the learning process and not on the teaching process (Kisby, 2017). It
should be focused on practical knowledge instead of bookish ones. The other things that are
taught in schools like the subject of biology, history, political science etc. are also important
but at the same time, I feel like students should also be taught of the basic knowledge like

4HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY
balancing cheque books, how the credit scores and rates of interest are calculated, how we
can save and budget our money and time etc. are the things that are actually required for a
long run. It is also to mention that most of the problems in the lives of people begin with their
inability of properly informing themselves about the hurdles and at the same time, people
have also adapted the idea that they require to be more street smarts instead of book smarts.
This helps individuals to improve on their life. Furthermore, it is also to state that education
should be focused on life skills (Giri & Sharma, 2019). Children generally learn the important
life skills from their society and environment. Both teachers and parents play significant role
in the process of moulding their behaviour. It is to note that life skills are the abilities for
positive and adaptive behaviours and skills that help an individual for dealing efficiently with
the everyday demands of life. There are different life skills that serve individuals in different
situations. For example, empathy helps an individual in understanding others; interpersonal
relations and effective communication are also crucial for the workplaces in the modern days’
pluralist liberal democracy. Children are likely to learn about these important skills from
school as they spend the majority of their times in school.
My educational philosophy
As far as my education philosophy is concerned, I would like to state that I believe all
the students are capable of learning and getting educated. Every child is unique on his own
and therefore, each and every one must have a stimulating educational environment where
they could grow emotionally, socially, mentally and physically. My desire is to create such
atmosphere of education for the students so that they could meet their potential to the fullest.
If I were to be a teacher then I would ensure to provide safe environment to my students were
they all are invited for sharing their ideas and taking risks. Furthermore, I believe that there
are a total of five important elements that are conducive of learning and the role of a teacher
is to act a guide for the same. With the same, every students must have the access of hands-on

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activities and should be able to have all the choices and openness so that they could let their
curiosity direct their process of learning. They need the opportunity of practicing their skills
in a safe environment. Lastly, I want technology to be incorporated into the school days so
that students could gain a sound knowledge and get equipped with their uses in the
contemporary world of advanced science and technology and AI been used in near about
every workplaces.
Hence, it is to conclude that both education system and teachers play a vital role in the
overall upbringing of a child as an effective and efficient human being. Students must be
allowed to develop their practical knowledge through their education system along with some
basics that are of utmost importance in the everyday lives. This will help in developing a
better tomorrow and a better society to live in.

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References:
Berkhout, J. J., Helmich, E., Teunissen, P. W., van der Vleuten, C. P., & Jaarsma, A. D. C.
(2018). Context matters when striving to promote active and lifelong learning in
medical education. Medical education, 52(1), 34-44.
Buckingham, C. (2017). Education. In HLM50+ Towards a Social Architecture (pp. 226-
253). Routledge.
Duckworth, A. L., & Yeager, D. S. (2015). Measurement matters: Assessing personal
qualities other than cognitive ability for educational purposes. Educational
Researcher, 44(4), 237-251.
Fitzsimons, P. (2017). Human capital theory and education. Encyclopedia of educational
philosophy and theory, 1050-1053.
Giri, D., & Sharma, J. (2019). PROMOTION OF LIFE SKILL EDUCATION FOR
ADOLESCENTS. JOURNAL OF ETHNIC MINORITIES RESEARCH, 8(1).
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Kohli, R., & Pizarro, M. (2016). Fighting to educate our own: Teachers of color, relational
accountability, and the struggle for racial justice. Equity & Excellence in
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Palei, T. (2015). Assessing the impact of infrastructure on economic growth and global
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Perry, E. J. (2018). Casting a Chinese" democracy" movement: The roles of students,
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