Why do we have to go to school?
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Why Do We Have to Go to School?
Socialization and Preparation for the Future
One of the primary reasons for attending school is socialization and preparation for the future. Research involving five-year-olds indicates that children perceive schooling as essential for their future, particularly through activities identified as "work" rather than "play"1. This socialization process is reinforced by the compulsory nature of schooling, which emphasizes its importance in preparing children for adult responsibilities and societal roles.
Diverse Perspectives on the Purpose of Schooling
The question of why we go to school has been debated for centuries, with various stakeholders offering different perspectives. Historically, compulsory attendance laws have been in place to ensure that young people receive formal education, which is seen as crucial for producing good citizens, imparting knowledge, and transmitting cultural heritage2. Scholars argue that the purpose of schooling should be determined through public deliberation, involving diverse community voices2. This highlights the multifaceted nature of schooling, which includes civic training, knowledge acquisition, and cultural transmission.
Learning, Life Skills, and Economic Wellbeing
A qualitative study exploring the beliefs of students, parents, and teachers identified four main purposes of schooling: learning and self-knowledge, developing life and social skills, optimizing life chances and quality of life, and enabling future employment and economic wellbeing4. While all groups agreed on the importance of learning, there were differences in the emphasis on economic purposes, with students having the broadest views on the purposes of schooling.
Capacity Building and Societal Expectations
In Nigeria, a survey of students and graduates revealed that many attend school for capacity building in their chosen fields, future aspirations, societal expectations, and parental decisions5. This reflects a broader understanding of schooling as a means to achieve personal and professional goals, meet societal expectations, and fulfill parental aspirations.
Economic and Nationalistic Competitiveness
In contemporary times, educational policies have increasingly positioned schools as instruments of economic and nationalistic competitiveness6. This shift underscores the role of schooling in preparing individuals to contribute to the economy and uphold national interests, often at the expense of broader educational goals.
Critique of Current Educational Practices
Critics argue that current educational practices, such as the use of repetitive worksheets and a focus on standardized curricula, fail to inspire creativity, critical thinking, and social responsibility7. Instead, they advocate for a rethinking of schooling to foster thoughtful, caring citizens who can challenge the status quo and contribute meaningfully to society.
Conclusion
In summary, the reasons for attending school are multifaceted and have evolved over time. Schooling serves to socialize children, prepare them for future responsibilities, impart knowledge, develop life skills, and contribute to economic and nationalistic goals. However, there is ongoing debate and critique regarding the effectiveness of current educational practices in achieving these purposes. Understanding the diverse perspectives on the purpose of schooling can help inform more holistic and meaningful educational experiences for students.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
Five-year-olds' Perceptions of Why We Go to School
Five-year-olds socialize to believe that schooling is essential for future preparation, through activities categorized as 'work' rather than 'play,' and its compulsory nature.
Observational StudyWhy Do We Send Children to School
The purpose of schooling is often a complex one, influenced by local customs and traditions, and often influenced by the individual's interests and desires.
Not Too Big to Fail: How Teacher Education Killed the Foundations
Teacher education programs are reducing coursework in educational Foundations, leading to the academic extinction of this important field.
Why go to school? Student, parent and teacher beliefs about the purposes of schooling
Students, parents, and teachers all believe in the learning purpose of schooling, but not all endorse an economic purpose, with the greatest alignment between views found for students and parents.
Observational StudyA REFLECTION ON THE PURPOSE OF SCHOOLING: A SURVEY OF NIGERIAN STUDENTS AND GRADUATES
Nigerian students and graduates perceive the purpose of schooling as capacity building, future aspirations, societal expectations, knowledge acquisition, and knowledge acquisition.
Observational StudyWhy Go to School?
Rethinking schooling is essential if we want to inspire thoughtful, caring citizens who can challenge the status quo rather than maintain it.
Transforming lives: the impact of compulsory schooling on hope and happiness
Mandatory extended primary schooling in Turkey increases happiness for females, but may lead to a decline in subjective well-being for males, possibly due to an imbalance between aspirations and attainments.
‘Going to school to become good people’: Examining aspirations to respectability and goodness among schoolchildren in urban Ethiopia
Children in urban Ethiopia desire to attend school due to their moral concerns and ideas of the good, as well as external factors promoting formal education as the key to becoming a 'good' person.
Do dropouts drop out too soon? Wealth, health and happiness from compulsory schooling
Compulsory schooling increases lifetime wealth by 15% and reduces poor health, unemployment, and unhappiness, suggesting adolescents may overlook future consequences when deciding to drop out.
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