Writing Journal I

Sema Culhaci
Language Development
Journal I
7/28/10


Writing Journal I

"What true education should do"

The text "What True Education Should Do" by Sydney J. Harris made me reflect on my own concept of
education. Interestingly, the author points out that  pupils might conceive education as "[...] a sort of animate sausage casing." This metaphor implies that you have to fill the case with more or less meaningful content until it is full of knowledge that you might can use in different contexts. But how can you fill this - metaphorically speaking - empty sausage case?
Undoubtedly, you might need the help of a teacher who could function as either a mentor, a guide, an instructor or an instant reference book. Regardless of which role a teacher performs, the prilimary concern should be the students' indentity formation, acquisition of meaningful world knowledge and the development of human skills. Thus, the teacher might help his students to become an active and self-reliant member of society.
Is that what true education is about? I believe that education is more than the mere  passive consumption of