For millions of students around the world, going to school is a daily ritual--and these students usually do not think too much about it. However, major changes made in the education system begs the question, “what is the purpose of education?” Some may view it as a right of passage, while others view it as a mandatory chore. Whatever the reasons, the purpose of education is to prepare students academically and socially in order to serve society. The most fundamental purpose of education is to prepare students academically. Students go to school so they can become enlightened with information and knowledge. As illustrated by Diego Rivera’s “Education,” those who possess knowledge are in the light, whereas those not educated are blinded by …show more content…
In the allegory, Plato describes people without education as prisoners a cave. These people see the world as a series of shadows, and what they understand is completely based on their own interpretation. However, these personal interpretations are not sufficient to understand the world. When one of the prisoners breaks free from the shackles and steps into the light, he realizes there is much more to the world than mere monochromatic shadows. While the situation in the allegory is completely hypothetical, it has numerous parallels to education. According to Plato, education is necessary for people to see possibilities beyond what they can already observe themselves. Education bridges the gap between innate knowledge and the world. Therefore, at the most fundamental level, the purpose of education is to enlighten students with knowledge to see the world in a different …show more content…
According to Gillian B. White, those who receive higher education are less likely to be unemployed. This means that the more educated someone is, the more needed they are, suggesting they are making irreplaceable contributions to society. Of course, this is not always true, as Mike Rowe demonstrates people can make people can make enormous contributions to society if they just identify their niche. However, people with higher education are more likely to be working jobs that pertain to technological innovations, which are extremely important contributions to society. This is not only because technology enriches the lives of millions of citizens, but also because technological advances are what will allow the nation to competition with foreign countries for “global dominance” (Strauss). Therefore, the purpose of education is also to teach students the necessary skills so that they can be a part of the larger workforce and contribute to the country’s global