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Education without values, is useful or a complete waste.


The term education is coined from a Latin word educare which means ‘to bring up’. Education aims not merely the supply some knowledge on various subjects, but it is aiming at developing certain habits and personality in a child. Swami Vivekananda says,” Education is the manifestation of perfection already in man. ”School is the first place for everyone to meet different types of people from different cultures. Education changes a baby who was cared by its parents to a socialized human being. Schools teach them the lessons of unity, cooperation and adjustments. It prepares a person to face and cope up with the society and his/her future itself. It trains a person how to take things positively and how to shape their own future. Robert Frost once said that “I’m not a teacher, but an awakener. “Education is a kind of awakening from the empty darkness to a wide and bright world. It drives at not only some certificates or job, but the main intention of education is the alround development of a man. Besides knowledge, education should develop a better culture, health and psychology in the students. Education is the development of a sound mind in a sound body.

Now days, education is too marketised. Most of the parents and students aim at how much more profit will they get according to the money invested for education. Their thoughts become more and more materialistic. They only consider their educational period as a capital deposited before a business. We always forget the main aim of education. Education is really a foundation on which a personality is built. If foundation is damaged, the whole life will go out of hand. That’s why presently we witness a lot of crimes and misconducts from highly educated people too. Many highly educated people are becoming terrorists and cheats. So, the question is, if we can’t create some moral base in pupil, what is the use of education and why are we going to schools? Education without values is a complete waste and it is poisonous too. Many advanced science and technologies are used for bad deeds. So, simple literacy doesn’t mean education. Criminals with high educational qualifications are not really educated. They are just literates.

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of US once wrote a thought provoking letter to his son’s teacher. In his letter, he narrates the real values of education. He tells the teacher to teach his son many things such as,

  • It is far honourable to fail than to cheat
  • Teach him not to follow the crowd
  • Teach him to listen to all men and take only the good that comes through
  • Teach him never to put a price-tag on his heart and soul
  • Let him have the patience to be brave

The each and every line of the letter speaks us about the real values of education. Abraham Lincoln was mostly self-educated, but he knew what education was. Today most of the parents don’t consider the main values of education. The book by-heating system and the syllabus formulated studies closes the windows towards the society. Education should stay connected with the society and it should be practical too. When children study things connected with the society they will develop a real knowledge about their surroundings. Consequently, when they study matters linked with society, a social sense and moral values will develop in them automatically. The inborn talents of children should be recognized and it will help in the development of their personality. The programs such as youth festivals, sports day, etc. should be encouraged. Many world famous talents have found their right way from their school days itself. The mode of teaching has a great role in shaping an identity. Service oriented activities such as NCC, NSS, Scouts and Guides should be promoted. This will improve the service mindedness in the children at their tender age itself. The market eye of children should be reduced urgently in the today’s context and when looking at the future.

Alongside the formal curriculum there should be a hidden curriculum in a children’s learning process. Teachers act as same as or more important role than that of parents today. The right values should be taught through practices. A critical thought and mental capacity should be increased in the students. Moral values and character development should be given the priority. And the education should not put a full stop in the books. When we know about the vast world around us, and when we study to analyse it, and when we learn to think positively, the true education begins. Let us remember the words of Margaret Mead, “Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.”

- Saranya P.S.

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