History and Principles of Education Essay

The principles which should control educational methods are to be sought in human nature. During a considerable period of early man life, life is helpless and ignorant and without strength and knowledge necessary it is difficult to maintain an independent existence (Painter, 1904). Therefore it is in this fact that renders education a necessity. Function of Education The function of education is to give the processes of physical and mental growth which assist and direct a person during the formative periods of childhood and youth. The end of education is complete human development which is attained by leading the several parts of man’s nature to a harmonious realization of their highest possibilities (Davidson, 1990). Aim of Education Education aims at developing a noble type of manhood and man has various duties to perform in the world which need special training and a wide range of knowledge. Education also aims to develop its subjects for their place in the established order of things. Its object is to impress upon each generation traditional ideas and customs and hence prepare it to take its place, in the established order of society. Elements of Education The two elements of education which are inseparable are development and acquisition of knowledge. Without development the individual lacks strength to grapple with the problem of life and without knowledge the person remains a cipher in society. (Painter, 1904) History of Education For the purpose of education villages in the ancient times had their schools, districts their academics, departments their colleges and principalities their universities. The wealthy in China made education respectable and popular as it opened the only road to political ambition as all officers of government had to study and pass examinations. The ancient classical nations, Greece and Rome are earliest representatives of European civilization as they contributed to Christianity and modern science and invention. Modern nation achievement and importance now demand recognition. Science has developed and made contribution to modern progress and commerce and invention has largely broken down narrow national prejudice. The history of education has left people with complete records of thoughts and achievements which have been incorporated in education. In education they mark an obvious advance upon the defective systems of the orient (Anthony & Benson, 2003). In Greece, in the history of education two cities, that is, Sparta and Athens used records to complete a system of education which was developed. During this heroic age of Troy education possessed a single character which was patriarchial. The fathers trained the sons to physical strength and the mother trained the daughter on household duties and domestic virtues. Greece had a supply of luxuries for the market place and along with their wares; merchants also provided abundance of stories about customs and local traditions which formed part of education. Cultural patterns from distant lands were accepted and assimilated into their own as Greek civilization sought to assimilate the best from foreign lands and accepted views of people even if they were differing. The Greek knew literature, art, poetry, drama, music, rhetoric which was included in education (Anthony & Benson, 2003). Education from the Reformation to the Present Time The reformation of the 16th century is the greatest event of education in modern history. It opened the literacy content of Greece and Rome which provided a new culture of education. The costly method of copying books by hand increased the sources of knowledge and brought it within reach to a lot of people who are readers. The Roman education was dominated by the family in the 753-272 B. C. and the father held the role of supreme authority. The family was the unit of the roman constitution, the custodian of ancestral tradition and the focal point of religious and educational activities. Cicero, one of the men in Rome, held Greek literary and philosophical education which he thought was useful and necessary in the basic educational curriculum of every roman citizen for them to be a contributing member of society. This way many roman citizen understood both classic Greek and Latin as well as Christian education hence it was a fine blend of both education systems ( Rowman & Littlefield, 1976) Christian education led to increase in schools like county schools, town schools, Latin schools and university in protestant countries due to religion. The relation of Christianity to education came about when education of paganism was thought imperfect as it was controlled by the wrong principles and did not look at the worth of individual in all its fullness. Christian education is indebted to the Old Testament people which provided on how to live in a rightful way (Graves, 1915). After Jews returned from exile they established schools for the education of their children. In the early Sumerian civilization the Sumer’s achievement were the development of the system of writing and the formal system of education. The subjects of instructors were originally catechism and singing but reading, writing and arithmetic’s were added later. The 18th century witnessed a new movement which was characterised by human education which based its educational principles on nature only. Here education was important as in the mind of the enlightened philosophers it prepared people to live according to the principles of nature which used scientific methods. Education in 19th Century The field of knowledge had widened and was within reach by 19th century. Pestalozzi is an educational reformer since the reformation who did much to popularise education by devoting his life in the educational world. He was distinguished for learning and became the medium through which all that was best educational theory obtained permanent recognition. Principles of Education The principles of education intend to provide a foundation on how to develop and teach courses which should have long impacts on individual lives, as teaching and learning is the reason of a learning institution. These principles will guide the learning institution into the future. The learning institution should maintain a learning environment that values the process of learning as much as the knowledge taught. This environment should encourage independent thinking and divergent activities which inspires students and elevate them. The learners should be inspired to develop independent, interdependent life long learning strategies, nurture their aspirations, imagination and confidence and possess self determination with a realistic assessment of ones attitude and inclinations. Education should promote effective expression in many forms for making public meaning and personal skills for individuals to be able to communicate with others effectively. Education should increase knowledge and thinking of an individual to be able to think critically and conduct discipline inquiry in order to understand complexity and simplicity of ideas and to prioritise and make decisions. Reform and education innovation most be addressed in the context of universal principles of human nature as the goal of education is success. Curriculum of education should be vigorous with standards alighted and necessary resources, professional teachers and maintain the assessment and accountability system to be effective. Opinion Education is a vital part in human development and it is important in our day lives. The principles of education have to be followed for there to be effective learning. The learning institutions should hire staffs that have the relevant skills for knowledge to be administered fully. Education has evolved through many centuries through the Roman, Greek and Christianity ages. An individual who has educations should be able to solve problems because that person has analytical skills and problem solving skills which are acquired through education. Education is still evolving as new ways of learning are being discovered and the introduction of technology has made it easy for people to learn through programs which facilitate e-learning hence education is a continuous process. Reference Christian Education; Principles for The Twenty-First Century, Kregel Publication, ISBN 0825420237. Frank Pierrepont Graves, (1915) A Student’s history of Education, Macmillan Co. Francosco Cordasco, (1976) A Brief History of Education; A handbook of Information on Greek, Roman, Medieral, Renaissance, Rowman and Littlefield, ISBN 0822600676. Franklin Verzelius Newton Painter, (1904) A History of Education, D. Appleton and company. Michael J. Anthony and Warren S. Benson, (200) Exploring the history and Philosophy of Thomas Davidson, (1900) A History of Education, Constable.