Education is not an end, but a means to an end. In other words, we don’t
educate children only for the purpose of educating them; our purpose is to fit them
for life. As soon as we realize this fact, we will understand that it is very important
to choose a system of education, which will really prepare children for life. It is not
enough just to choose the first system of education one finds; or to continue with
one’s old system of education without examining it to see whether it is in fact
suitable or not.
In many modern countries it has for some time been fashionable to think
that, by free education for all – whether rich or poor, clever or stupid – one can
solve all the problems of society and build a perfect nation. But we can already see
that free education for all is not enough; we find in such countries a far larger
number of people with university degrees than there are jobs for them… Because
of their degrees, they refuse to do what they think “low” work; and, in fact, work
with the hands is thought to be dirty and shameful in such countries.
But we have only to think a moment to understand that the work of a
completely uneducated farmer is far more important than that of a professor: we
can live without education, but we die if we have no food. If no one cleaned our
streets and took the rubbish away from our houses, we should get terrible diseases
in our towns. In countries where there are no servants because everyone is
ashamed to do such work, the professors have to waste much of their time doing
housework.
In fact, when we say that all of us must be educated to fit us for life, it
means that we must be educated in such away that, firstly, each of us can do
whatever job is suited to his brain and ability, and, secondly, that we can realize
that all jobs are necessary to society, and that it is very bad to be ashamed of one’s
work, or to scorn someone else’s. Only such type of education can be called
valuable to society.
Answer the questions. Use the expressions given in the brackets.
1. Which job is more valuable: that of a) a space-pilot or that of a book-
keeper; b) an economist or a philologist; c) an actor or a scientist? (in this own
sphere, equally useful, necessary, to serve various needs of a community, to study
the laws of nature, to predict the future developments, to care for the needs of, to
entertain people, to make people think of/realize the importance of…)
2. What do you think are the best means of learning a foreign language?
3. What may be the ways of self-education?
4. What can you say about the advantages of universal secondary education?
(to be given equal opportunities, to be guaranteed a chance to…, to develop
various skills and abilities, to open the world of human knowledge and science in
general).
5. What kind of advice would you give to a girl who is about to leave
school? (in my opinion you should…, get a job, get married, settle down, have a
family, continue your studies).
6. What problems, do you think, may face a society where universal
secondary education has been implemented? (to have no talent for academic
training, to select the most capable, to start vocational/professional training, to
select the most capable/less capable, contrary to expectations, to earn one’s living,
to meet the demands of modern highly industrialized society).
7. Does the end always justify the means? If the aim or purpose is good, may
any methods, even if bad, be employed? (by means of, immoral acts, lies, fraud,
violence, intrigues, acts of terrorism, plots, assassinations, to achieve no good, to
result in).
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