Why Do People Need Education?
Derek Bok, the former president of Harvard University, is quoted as saying "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance." This sentiment expresses the fact that there is a high cost to not having a good education. Many people, though, might wonder exactly what the definition of education is and why it is so important.
Education helps people to succeed in life. A basic education allows you to function in society. An advanced education helps you to achieve financial security and career success.
What is Education?
The dictionary defines education as:
- the process of training and developing the knowledge, skill, mind, character, etc., esp. by formal schooling; teaching; training
- knowledge, ability, etc. thus developed
- formal schooling at an institution of learning
- a stage of this is a high-school education
- systematic study of the methods and theories of teaching and learning
This broad definition means that any type of knowledge you obtain comes from some form of education or another. If all knowledge does in fact come from some type of education, then the answer to the question of why you need education would seem to be that you need education in order to care for yourself and function in the world.
After all, many of the basic skills that you must use to stay alive -from preparing and eating food to putting on clothing and looking both ways before you cross the street- are knowledge that you learned.
Informal Education
While most people tend to think of education as formal education and schools, self education is a valid and important form of education. Self education, or informal education, is perhaps the most necessary type of education. When your parents train you to develop basic manners and life skills, the education you are getting is essential to your success in life.
If you do not obtain the training required and develop your mind to understand things like "don't steal," or "share your toys," or "be nice to others" you won't be able to function in society. Thus, this type of basic informal education is the building block to becoming a productive citizen.
Informal education can rise beyond the level of learning to tie your shoes and make yourself breakfast in the morning. Some individuals -called "autodidacts"- are entirely or partially self taught and give themselves amazing educations. For example, Leonardo daVinci was self taught and created some of the most amazing sculptures and art known to man, as well as some fundamental mathematical principles. Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln and many other notable names are also known for being self taught.
Formal Education
Formal education is also necessary. Some basic forms of formal education in school - such as learning to read, write, add, subtract, multiply and divide - fall into the category of basic life skills. The formal training that you get in elementary school to do these basic skills is essential to knowing how to buy food, pay your rent, sign your name, apply for a job, or do any number of things required to live a productive life.
Some may argue that the useful and practical skills you obtain from formal education are all achieved by elementary school. In fact, in some cultures such as the Amish culture, many kids leave school in the eighth grade and begin a different type of education, learning how to manage their own farms or to excel in other traits useful in the Amish community.
For others who continue on with their formal training or who want to excel in mainstream society, formal education is necessary not only to learn advanced skills, but also to succeed in a career.
While it is possible to be successful without a college degree (Bill Gates, for example, dropped out of college and is quite successful) it is much more difficult. Getting a degree opens doors to financial success for most, and makes it much easier to achieve career success.
For example, the average person with "some high school" and no degree earns only $23,400 per year according to Earn My Degree.com. Getting a high school degree ups that number to $30,400. A bachelor's degree ups the average to $52,200 while a professional degree (such as a medical or law degree) ups the average to $109,600.
The difference in income level an education gives you is astounding. Consider the fact, for example, that over their lives, a person with a bachelor's will make $2.1 million compared to a person with a high school degree who earns $1.2 million.