ESSENTIAL OF EDUCATION - SIR RICHARD LIVINGSTONE

ESSENTIAL OF EDUCATION  - SIR RICHARD LIVINGSTONE

Introduction

    Sir Richard Livingstone is a famous British Educationist and administrator. The essay  ‘Essential of Education’ is taken from a lecture on ‘The Essentials and Utility of Modern Education’. He delivered it at the American International College in America. This essay presents the clear idea about the aim of education.

Education and Dishes

    The author starts the essay by comparing education with the menu card in a passenger ship or in some American hotels. In both places they offer variety of dishes to the people. A person who goes to these places will be confused of the varieties. Similarly, in education also, we have innumerable subjects, so that people get confused of it.

 What is Education for?

    To this question, the author says, both the parents and students are not aware of value of education. Students go to schools and colleges because of their parents’ wish. Moreover education is a necessary one to succeed in the world and so it has become a compulsory one.

First rate Education

     The aim of education is to help the students to learn what is first-rate in the particular subject which he studies. If it is a course in English, the student should know what is good English; if it is a course in agriculture, the student should know the best methods in farming; if it is a course in cookery, the student should know how to cook really well. This is common to all courses. If we fail to understand, the first rate in the subject we studied then our education will be incomplete and unsatisfactory. We must not limit our scope only to pass examinations and secure degrees but to pursue excellence.

Types of Education

     The only branch of education in which we are entirely successful is vocational education which makes up material civilization such as engineering, medicine, commerce or technology, nursing or hotel keeping etc. An educated man should know what is first rate in those activities which spring from the creative and intellectual faculties of human nature, such as literature, art, architecture and music. The architecture may often be bad, the literature and the music often puerile (silly). We need clear standards about the distinction between first – rate and second rate, between good and bad, in conduct and in life.

Conclusion

     Thus the author concludes the essay by answering the questions in a simple and effective manner.