Education Meaning

Of all the creations of God, human life is most sacred. It has two aspects-the biological and the sociological. While the biological aspect of human life is maintained and transmitted by nutrition and reproduction, the social aspect of human life is maintained and transmitted by Education.

The word education is derived from the Latin word  ‘educare’ which means ‘to bring up’. There is yet another Latin word ‘educere’ which means to bring forth. Education therefore, means both to bring forth as well as bring up.

Some theorists give a different explanation of the word “educate”. They say  ‘e’ means ‘out of’ and ‘duco’ means ‘to lead’ i.e. ‘to educate’ means “to lead forth” or “ to extract out” the best in man.

This explanation presumes that all knowledge is inherent in the children. Only methods are to be found out to tap their brains and knowledge will automatically flow.

Mahatma Gandhi also supports this theory when he says, “By education  I mean an all round drawing out of the best in the child and man-body, mind and spirit.”

These two views of Education can be accepted with a punch of salt. We can not ‘draw out’ anything unless we put in something before.  The child is not like an artesian well, where we put a funnel and water will gush out. He is like a Bank, where something must be put before we expect to draw out. It may be that once or twice a bright and quick child may give a promise of talents, but it is not always true. Unless knowledge and experience is given to the child we cannot draw out the best in him. (V R Taneja)