What Is The Purpose of Education?
What is the purpose of education? I’ve been asking this question since I was a young student. As someone who has a physical disability and is non-verbal, I found it especially important to ask, “What is the purpose of my education?” As my capacity to communicate improved, I also began to ask this question out loud to the educators and learning consultants in my life. I’m not sure whether they found my question insightful or annoying — maybe a bit of both.
If I were to ask you, “What is the purpose of education?”, I’m sure your answer would have some things in common with mine, but our answers would be by no means identical. And that would not be surprising, since the purpose of education is evolving as our world changes. For me, answering this question is a bit like putting a puzzle together, where the picture we’re trying to create is that of a successful student — and that means a student who is successful not just during the academic years but in the community after graduation.
When I started to put my own education puzzle together as a student, I found that some pieces fit nicely, while trying to fit other pieces was more of a struggle. I’ll give you an example. When I was in high school, I had a modified course load because it took me longer to write assignments using my assistive technology. As a result of this modified course load, it was sometimes a challenge to create a timetable that included all of the core subjects I needed to get my high school diploma. One year the timetable didn’t work out, and my choices were limited: I could either have a spare or take a grade 12 entrepreneurial studies course. One of the education consultants suggested that the spare might be more beneficial, partly because he could not see how a course in entrepreneurial studies would help shape my future. This suggestion annoyed me. I believed that the ability to learn trumped a spare in the library. Out of sheer defiance, I chose the course even though — confession time! — I had no clue what entrepreneurial studies was...
As it turned out, I found this course extremely interesting, and I got an A-plus on my main assignment, which was on — I kid you not — setting up a small business. Several of my educators took it as a fluke that I did so well, and they still could not envision how this course might have any relevance to my future. Fast-forward a couple of decades, and here I am, a small business entrepreneur who has been recognized by my local chamber of commerce and by the Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Ontario for my contributions.
Which brings me back to my original question: What is the purpose of education? There are many pieces to this puzzle, but from my perspective as a former student, three pieces are key. One is that we must have a clear vision of equity and inclusion, including what this means within the context of education. Another key piece is that we need to discover and support the learning potential of all students, regardless of their ability. And a third key piece of the puzzle is that our education practices must ultimately enable students to create and live purposeful lives in their community beyond graduation. In other words, what students learn in school must equip them with the skills and confidence that will help them to live in and contribute to the community as adults, including in their place of employment. With honesty and insight, we need to ask ourselves, “Are our efforts to achieve equity and inclusion truly recognizing and supporting students’ learning abilities and enabling them to create and live a purposeful life in their community?”
Together, we must continue our journey to answer this question within the context of our changing global world. Together, we need to stay focused on whether our collective actions to promote equity and inclusion achieve the purpose of education. The challenges are always worth it, because when we come together to create a truly equitable and inclusive educational experience, then Together We Rock!
