The Competing Aims of Education

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Introduction.

This essay attempts to discuss the competing aims of education whether they be academic, vocational or even purely enabling students to be virtuous. Marples (2010), “What is Education for?”, and Hand (2010), “What should go on the Curriculum?” provide much of the initial insight into the formation of my personal view on the competing aims of education

What is education for?

Education is in itself a concept, which has changed over the millennia, can mean different things and has had differing purposes according to time and culture. Education may take place anywhere, is not constrained by bricks and mortar, delivery mechanisms or legislative requirements. Carr (2003. p19) even states, “education does not necessarily involve teaching”. Education, by one definition, is the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life (education, n.d.).

In Australia, the Australian Curriculum and Reporting authority (ACARA) has developed national curriculum and guidelines to be adhered to by all educational entities and teachers from years K – 12.

General capabilities are embedded in all areas of teaching, encompass the knowledge, skills, behaviours and dispositions that, together with curriculum content in each learning area and the cross-curriculum priorities, will assist students to live and work successfully in the twenty-first century (ACARA, 2013). Ethical understanding is a specific general capability, of the Australian Curriculum, identified along with Critical and creative thinking, Personal and social capability, and Intercultural understanding. These all place a great demand on the ...

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...9). London: Bloomsbury

Haydon, G. (1997). Teaching about values: A new approach. London: Cassell

Marples, R. (2010). What should go on the curriculum? In Bailey, R. (Ed.), The philosophy of education: An introduction (pp 33-47). London: Bloomsbury

Moltow, D. (2014, March 19). EMT 602: Ethics, Education and Professional Practice, Week 4 lecture. Lecture presented for the Master of Teaching, University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia.

Norman, R. (1983). The Moral Philosopher. Oxford: Oxford Press

O’Hear, A. (1981). Education, Society and Human Nature, pp. 129-30). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.

Peters, R.S. (1996). Ethics and Education. London: Allen & Unwin.

Pring, R. (1995). Closing the Gap: Liberal Education and Vocational preparation. London: Hodder & Stoughton.

White, J. (1982). The aims of education restated (pp. 121-2). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.

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