What It Means To Be Educated

I am educated. So, what does that mean? To me, it means I have been taught a variety of subjects such as mathematics, social studies, science, music, and history in school. It also means that I have acquired a number of skills and values by virtue of my training, both at school and outside the school environment. Education can be received in a structured environment such as a school, at home from family members, self -teaching from books or the internet, or from simply soaking up knowledge while interacting with other people. There have been several interpretations of what it means to be educated. Thomas Jefferson, (the third President of the United States of America) saw being educated as the key preparation for citizens, and as an important
Rather than start out with a predetermined outcome for what students must do, liberal education helps them make those discoveries and secure those opportunities (Roth 2015, 7). So, what is liberal education? Liberal education refers to the combination of the philosophical and rhetorical traditions of how one learns as a whole person (Roth 2015, 4-5). Liberal education intertwines the philosophical and rhetorical so that we learn how to learn, so that we continue both inquiry and cultural participation throughout our lives because learning has become part of who we are (Roth 2015, 5). Going further, Roth believes there is a strong link between education and democracy when he says “in a nation that aspires to democracy, that’s what education is primarily for: the cultivation of freedom within society and for generations of Americans, literate and well-rounded citizens were seen as essential to a healthy republic” (2015, xiii). As the United State democratic experiment was being launched at the end of the 18th Century, so were debates about the importance of education and the incumbent President (Thomas Jefferson) was convinced that only by educating its citizenry, could the new republic steer a course between the hazardous rocks of governmental tyranny and popular anarchy (Roth 2015, 21). All over the world today, there is a consensus that education offers the best foundation for a successful and effective democratic government. Respect for law and order, the constitution, knowing your rights, understanding key democratic principles, and policies are some of the major advantages that comes with being a well-educated citizen. John Adams, the second United States President, tells us that only an informed citizenry would be able to see through the ruses used by governmental authorities, and exposure to the competition of ideas would allow citizens to