The goals of true education

Abstract

Neither education nor any other community enterprise will ever be meaningful and rewarding unless its goals and objectives are understood and supported by those who are engaged in it, be they students or teachers, or janitors or administrators, lowly citizens or high government officials. Without any sense of purpose, all our strivings are, to say the least, a great waste of resources. In fact, the worst consequence that can befall a nation can be triggered by aimless community endeavor: the collapse of a nation for lack of inner strength.

When we speak of "deeper commitment to the new society,” it is assumed that we all hope to see a transformation inspired by godliness to gladden the human spirit. It is also assumed that we are all for it and simply ask how we, as teachers or town officials, can participate in the steady and full realization of our hopes for our people.

So it is necessary that we ask questions about our conduct of community life. I think it will not be amiss, if, for the present, we speak only in terms of education, as an example of what we can aim to do. Then we can think of how the basic principles can be made to apply in other community responsibilities.