Abstract:
Education is an inherent part of every society, dating back to the beginning of recorded
history. It plays an essential role in developing the skills and knowledge base of future
generations, as well as helps to shape the goals for a community and its people. That
said, the purpose of education and what is expected of elementary educators in our
current world seems to be up for debate. The public, teachers, and society at large all
have their own opinions, not to mention how our needs for society shift with each
changing decade. By delving into works by education philosophers, reformers, and
researchers and applying these definitions to my own personal experience with
education, I attempt to define education’s purpose in the context of our modern world.
