Lecture on Education I

Yishun Junior College

JC 2
Year 2011
Overview of lectures
LECTURE I
 Definition of Education
 Aims of education systems in the past vs present
 Changes in the aims
 Reasons for the change
 How has it changed?

LECTURE II
 Case studies:
 Japan
 America
 Finland’s success
 Singapore: 21st century skills and challenges

LECTURE III
 Issues
 Conclusion
 Examination questions
Overview of LECTURE I
 Definitions of Education

 Aims of education systems in the

past vs present

 Changes in the aims

 Reasons for the change
 How has it changed?
Definitions of education
Definitions of Education
 Education is the process of developing or
perfecting human beings. It tries to cultivate the
humanity of man by developing his specifically
human excellences – both intellectual and moral.
The ultimate goals of education are human
happiness and the welfare of society. Its
products are good men and good citizens.

~ Adler, Great Ideas from Great Books

Definitions of Education
 Education is the teaching and training of one’s
character and mind. All men live in a society.
All men have a personality to develop and the
power of living ill or well. He must learn to earn
a living, to be a good member of the society.
Education as a means of perpetuating and re-
interpreting national ideals or transmitting the
good life has long been universally recognised
as an important function.

~ From Comparative Studies of South East

Asian Education
Definitions of Education
 The word ‘education’ comes from the root e from ex, out,
and duco, I lead. It means leading out. To me education
is a leading out of what is already there in a pupil’s soul.
To Miss Mackay it is a putting in of something that is not
there and that is not what I call education. I call it
intrusion, from the Latin root prefix in meaning in and the
stem trudo, I thrust. Miss Mackay’s method is to thrust a
lot of information into the pupil’s head; mine is a leading
out of knowledge, and that is proved by the root meaning

~ From The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Muriel Spark

Aims of education systems in the
past vs present

Changes in the aims

Aims of education system in the past vs
present: Changes in the aims
PAST PRESENT
Aims of education in the ancient past:
Aims of education in the
Sparta: to produce sufficient soldier citizens. Modern World
Athens: to produce thinkers and good citizens
who were well-rounded individuals. o Character development,
Rome: to produce effective speakers. Focus o Inculcating values &
was less practical.
China: Confucianism aimed to transform morality
China from an aristocratic to meritocratic o Instilling social
government.
awareness,
o Developing open
Aims of education in the 19th Century: mindedness and tolerance
Governments realised the power of
education. In the US, people used the power o Nation building
of education to produce intelligent citizens o Enhancing
to function in a democratic society. In
Europe, education was used to shape the communication skills
success of a nation. o Instilling creativity and
thinking skills
Aims of education in the 20th and 21st o Talent development
Centuries: Aims of education become more
altruistic. People emphasise on developing
o Aesthetic development
the child holistically.
Aims of education systems in
the past vs present

Reasons for the change

Aims of education systems in the past vs present:
Reasons for the change

 Civilisations evolve differently. Hence, the aims

of education often change, depending on the
needs of societies at different periods.

 Today, most education systems in the modern

world believe that we should, ideally, develop
the whole child.
Aims of education systems in the past vs present:
Reasons for the change

 So why the change?

 Globalised world: Need to develop
open mindedness,
 Influx of foreign talents: tolerance and social
awareness
 More cosmopolitan societies

 Brain drain: Need for nation building

 Decline of morality: Need to develop character, inculcate

values and morality
 changing structure of families,
 declining importance of religions and
 Increasing influence of materialism today.
Aims of education systems in the past vs present:
Reasons for the change

 Highly competitive society:

 Advent of Science and Technology:

 Greater access to information Need to
development
 Affluent societies are demanding more
talent, creativity
in terms of goods and services and thinking skills

 Knowledge based economy

 Participate in knowledge creation

 Generate new sources of revenue from technologies,

products and services

Aims of education systems in
the past vs present

How has it changed?

Aims of education systems in the past vs present:
How has it changed?

 Curriculum
 Inter-disciplinary,
holistic education
 Learn through experience: Project based,
encourages group work and learning through
experience.
 Encourage questioning and critical thinking
 Student-focused
 Veer away from the factory-school model and
rote learning
 Use alternative modes of assessment
Aims of education systems in the past vs present:
How has it changed?

 Teacher’s role
 Role as a facilitator and not the know-all sage
 Empowers learners

 Student’s role
 Active learners
 Independent