What Are the General Goals of Education?

The general goals of education are the same today as they were in ancient Greece.

In their book, "An Introduction To the Foundation of Education," Allan C. Ornstein and Daniel U. Levine wrote that Aristotle believed the goals of education were to teach technical skills, play, physical activity, moral and physical education, gymnastic training or physical education and music. Nearly 2,400 years after his death in 322 B.C., Aristotle's educational goals generally reflect present-day curricula through the first four years of college.

The Presidential Imperative

The White House website says, "President Obama will reform America's public schools to deliver a 21st Century education that will prepare all children for success in the new global workplace ... by promoting world-class academic standards and a curriculum that fosters critical thinking, problem solving, and the innovative use of knowledge to prepare students for college and career." Certainly, educational goals that encourage critical thinking and advocate world class academic standards would be in accord with Aristotelian principles.

Personal Financial Literacy

General education goals must reflect a greater emphasis on skills, such as math and science, required to compete in a world economy. However, we must also incorporate courses that prepare our youth to function more responsibly in an increasingly complex financial environment on the home front. So says the national non-profit organization, JumpStart, a coalition of public and private advocacy groups that are working with federal and state educators to adopt financial literacy as a general educational goal and to require the inclusion of appropriate courses in the K-12 curricula.

JumpStart

JumpStart was founded in 1995 by the then-CEO of Ford Motor Company, William E. Odom. The group's stated mission is "to improve the financial literacy of pre-kindergarten through college-age youth by providing advocacy, research, standards and educational resources. JumpStart strives to prepare youth for life-long successful financial decision-making." As of 2006, four states now require at least a one-semester course on personal finance, and 19 other states include personal finance in other subject material.

American Heritage

Though an Aristotelian academic agenda would most assuredly include instruction in the political institutions of that era, sadly, civics has all but disappeared from the current curricula of most American elementary and high schools. This shortcoming spawned the creation of The Center for Civic Education in 1969 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational corporation dedicated to restoring the teaching of civics in the classroom. Their agenda is "to help students develop an increased understanding of the institutions of American constitutional democracy and the fundamental principles and values upon which they are founded; the skills necessary to participate as effective and responsible citizens; and the willingness to use democratic procedures for making decisions and managing conflict."

Summary

The general goals of education have remained steadfast for more than 2,000 years to provide citizens of a free society with the intellectual tools to govern themselves successfully. Math, science, literature, philosophy, personal finance and civics are the core disciplines to achieving this overall goal. An educated, informed and involved citizenry is the best defense against tyranny, and the key to preserving a constitutional democracy.

References

• The White House: Education: Guiding Principles: Reform and Invest in K-12 Education
• State of Washinton: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction: Washington State Learning Standards: Learning Goals
• U.S. Government Services Administration: JumpStart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy: National Standards in K-12
• New Foundations; The Educational Theory of Aristotle; What are the goals of education?; Elizabeth Mays; January 2008
• Center for Civic Education; About the Center; 2009