Is Educative Schooling Possible?

Overview & Synopsis

This paper suggests a theoretical grounding for considerations about education from which a conceptual model for an educational setting can be derived. The author discusses the distinction between schooling and education, the biological necessity of education, and the organization of education. He considers four criteria of education that translate into adaptation, participation, creative contribution, and constructive transformation of the enrironment. These four criteria are seen to occupy different focus centers in schooling, depending on the age of the individual. The author argues that, although schools can be expected to do a reasonably good job with regard to helping the individual adapt to and participate in the environment, present institutional conservatism is educationally restrictive and prohibits the constructive transformation of the environment. The paper concludes by suggesting that schools could more effectively meet the total demands of education by improving the competency of educators through changes in the methods of their selection and training. (DN)