What is Education?

     As a homeschooling mom, this question passes through my mind from time to time.

            Heather asked me today, "What is education?" 

Good question.  I should know, since I'm supposedly providing her and her siblings with one!

         I answered, "It's learning through reading books, talking to people, watching TV and movies, and listening to music."   "Even watching TV?!"  "Yes, you learn through TV and many other things."
    


Heather works at her desk while Katrina and Jonathan play Alphabet Go Fish

      It did bring me back to that question though. 

                              What is Education?

     Hopefully, we all received or are receiving an education, and homeschooling moms are working on giving one to their children, but WHAT IS IT?
         Merriam-Webster says it is the "knowledge, skill, and understanding that you get from attending a school, college or university".
      Hmmm... since my kids stay at home, does that mean they aren't receiving an education? :)

I think most of us would agree that to be educated, one should have knowledge of how the world works, a sense of their place in history, understand math in order to do banking, and shopping, and to know how to read and understand what you are reading.
        In other words: Science, History, Math, and Literature.

But, is there something more to an education?  Are you truly educated if you don't have common sense, or if you don't have empathy, or have no creativity?
          Is there something more to education that studying for tests?


In my opinion, to be truly educated, one should have not only skills in reading, math, science, history, typing, art, handwriting, etc., etc.... they should also be taught life skills like empathy, cooking, creativity, responsibility, and forgiveness. 
                 Of course, most of those last things are things you learn at home.

                                    When you are homeschooling, they become part of the curriculum.

      I strongly believe that all children need to learn to read, learn the multiplication table by heart, and know what the Civil War is about.
             They also need to know how to make up after a fight with a sibling or parent, how to mend a torn off button, how to entertain a toddler.  And most importantly of all, what is faith, what does the Bible teach, and having a personal relationship with Jesus.  Some day, those "non-curriculum" items will be as important, if not MORE important than the "book learning".
         What do you think?

PS. Found this on Wikipedia so take it for what it's worth but, "the word "education" is derived from the Latin ēducātiō ("A breeding, a bringing up, a rearing)