what is eduaction

 Education is the process or act of learning or teaching, i.e., acquiring or imparting knowledge. It includes the preparation of children for mature life. The term’s meaning can vary, depending on its context, who says it, and where. However, in most cases, it also involves developing people’s powers of reasoning and judgment.

In general terms, when talking about society or a country, we use the term education when talking about primary and secondary schools, and maybe also high schools, colleges, universities, and other institutes where adults go to learn.

If I say: “During this election campaign, both parties are focusing strongly on education spending,” I am talking about spending on schools and adult learning centers.

The Cambridge Dictionary has the following definition of the term:

“The process of teaching or learning, especially in a school or college, or the knowledge that you get from this.”

It is also a sector of the economy or society. Teachers and university professors, for example, work in education, while pilots and civil servants work in the aviation and public sectors respectively.

Etymology of education

If you specialize in the origin of words and how their meanings evolved over time, you are an etymologist. Regarding the etymology of education, it first emerged in the English language in the 1530s with the meaning “child rearing, the training of animals.”

The word came from the Middle French word Education, which originated from the Latin word Educationem, which meant “a rearing, training.”

Brief history

Pre-literate societies

Education has been around in human society for several thousand years. Adults would train their children, adolescents, and young adults in the skills and knowledge required in their society.

Before we knew how to read or write, this was done orally. Imitation was also a common teaching tool in our pre-literate societies

Europe

Europe’s first institution of higher learning was the Academy of Athens, founded by Plato (428-348 BC) in 387 BC. Aristotle (384–322 BC), who studied in Plato’s academy for twenty years, then founded the Lyceum in 334 BC.

Confucius (551-479), from the State of Lu (China), was the region’s most influential philosopher at the time. His outlook on education still influences Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese societies today.

Pre-colonial America

The Aztecs, in what today is Mexico, had an extremely well-developed theory regarding education. The Nahuatl word tlacahuapahualiztli, translates as “the art of educating or raising a person, the art of bringing up or strengthening people.”

The Aztecs believed that education started at home and should be supported by formal schooling and community living.

The Catholic Church

The Catholic Church, after the Fall of Rome, became Western Europe’s sole preserver of literary teaching. It established cathedral schools as institutions of advanced education during the middle ages. They were the forebears of Europe’s universities today

Types of Education

In the formal sense, education is structured learning. From children to adults, students receive their education mainly through classroom instruction. Technological aids, such as online and distance education, are common methods for collegiate education. The five main areas of education are contained in the following list:

• Preschool education
• Elementary education
• Secondary education
• Post-secondary education
• Continuing education

Important Facts About Education

Online Availability	Accessible at all levels
Prerequisites	Each level typically requires completion of the preceding levels
Programs	Available in the private and public sectors
Educational Environments	Private and public schools; charter schools; playground and nursery settings; institutions for higher education

Preschool Education

Preschool education, or early childhood education, provides a structured learning environment for children under five. Also called nursery school, preschool education is designed to prepare children for elementary school by teaching them the basics of reading, writing and math.

Elementary Education

Elementary education encompasses grades one through eight. Elementary education continues to develop basic skills while also introducing students to other subjects, such as history, science and health education. In all 50 states, attending elementary school is mandatory. In some cases, parents might elect to provide home schooling for their children.

Secondary Education

The four years of high school following completion of primary education is called secondary education. In most states, secondary education consists of grades 9 through 12; in others, secondary education might start as early as grade 6. Secondary education further develops social skills while also preparing students for college or, through vocational courses, a trade occupation.

Post-secondary Education

Upon completion of secondary education, many people choose to pursue post-secondary education by attending college. Degree programs in specific areas of study prepare college students for a particular career. For some, post-secondary education might extend beyond a 2- or 4-year degree, leading to a graduate or doctoral degree.

Continuing Education

In most cases, continuing education refers to study beyond the academic programs offered by colleges and universities. In some careers, continuing education is a requirement to retain professional licensure or certification. Continuing education might consist solely of classroom instruction, or it could combine classroom teaching with seminars, online instruction or workshops.