"What sculpture is to a block of marble, education is to the soul." ~Joseph Addison~














[Suffer Little Children to Come to Me by John Gibson (sometimes entitled, "Christ Blessing the Little Children"). Marble. 978 x 2178 mm. 1862-4. Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool. Photograph and text by Jacqueline Banerjee - "This image may be used without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose." from victorianweb.org.]

It's that time of year I ask myself the same question: "What is education?" and re-read through my favorite education, teaching, learning, homeschool quotes. One of my favorites is really a definition. Dana asked the same question and mentioned in her post earlier this summer how this definition is more "all-encompassing & multi-faceted" - a good descriptive paraphrase: "parenting" -- that's why I like it too.

EDUCATION, n. [L. educatio.] The bringing up of as of a child; instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future situations. To give children a good education in manners, arts and science is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable; an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties. ~Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary~

I left the comment at her blog of my own definition which echoes the above:

Education is: the cultivation of a soul, a person – by leading them in the search for truth, knowledge, understanding, wisdom (the internal, spiritual, mental life) while nourishing (nurture) them as they fulfill their earthly, physical vocation (who they are as an individual with all their talents and gifts, their spiritual calling). When good and necessary facts/information, curricula, methods, career, skills, etc., become the priority and it becomes merely a transfer of knowledge only, the person is forgotten and lost.

Once again, I'm reviewing my own reasons as to just what I think about education and why I homeschool. What I believe makes all the difference in the kind of education I aim for.

See more of my favorite quotes:

Students learn what they care about....
True education is a kind of never ending...
The question is not, how much does the youth know when...
Learning is not attained by...
What can the parent do?
When does education begin?
I Learned Most, Not From...
The actual work of the teacher consists of the awakening...
True Education is.....