History of Education

Education comes with a history. First was probably imitation and oral transmission of knowledge in the family or group or clan or village. Second, after the common sounds were expressed by picture-symbols and better symbols, letters, there came formal transmission of thoughts about the world and what was felt to be of utmost importance to people. Sometimes good jokes were included, as for example in Sumerian proverbs.

With the letters the upbringing of privileged children gradually became less family-linked, more formally arranged, and got its own special places of teaching and learning. That means schooling set in and got itself very much liked by the rulers, and less liked by many others. But almost all children and young ones were barred from good opportunities to read and write. They were to work and serve instead, those who survived childhood. Death rates were high among illiterates, superstitions many, and main, hygienic points to observe were largely absent.

Alternatives to good schooling include bad schooling and no schooling. Good schooling is the thing to go for. It helps a person unfold from his or her source inside with enough care, as when nurturing a plant in the garden. There is much to learn about gardening - very much, in fact. Parts apply splendidly to education of the young.

The word education takes on many other meanings, depending on what one thinks of when saying the word.

Education quotations

Education: that which discloses to the wise and disguises from the foolish their lack of understanding, [Ambrose Bierce]

'Tis education forms the common mind, Just as the twig is bent, the tree's inclined. [Alexander Pope]

More educational quotations.