Introduction
Even though the number of people graduating from educational institutions is constantly growing, only a few of us think about the initial purposes of education (“Growth in Demand: Total Number of Students in Higher Education” par. 1). Krishnamurti’s reflection on the main function of education reveals many issues related to building up a clear understanding of what is the final result we should receive after we “go through the struggle to be educated” (Krishnamurti 9). The analysis of the author’s thoughts reflected in the article demonstrates that the primary aim of education is to help young people understand the nature of the universe, the purpose of their lives, and the extent of their capacities.
Krishnamurti’s Views on Education
Krishnamurti portrays education as the tool used by modern society inappropriately. He encourages the reader to think over the question whether education should have purely materialistic goals, such as earning one’s living, or it needs to help the young person to understand the whole process of life. The author chooses the second variant and provides a deep and comprehensive reasoning for such position. He reveals that getting the education only to get a job and fit into the traditional model of life does not bring happiness to a person.
Using schooling for such purposes leads to living in the world of fears and stereotypes without realizing who we are and what is the purpose of our existence. However, when the education is used to open the opportunities for exploring this world in all its beauty, all its subtleties, it encourages young people to question the traditional order of things and find their unique paths to the meaningful existence and happy, fearless life (Krishnamurti 10). In other words, education should assist people in answering the most fundamental questions about life and serve as the fruitful ground for creating the world that is free of fears, boundaries, and injustices.
Analysis of the Current Tendencies in Education
The author of the article opposes such type of education to the current tendencies we can observe in everyday life. Young people are not encouraged to question the things they learn or search for truth. Instead, they are bounded by numerous restrictions, rules, and traditions dictating what is good and what is bad and eliminating the very possibility of thinking out of frame. Such features of modern education result in people’s willingness to choose the safe and boring life in the cage of formalities and fears instead of searching for answers to the questions like what is God, love, and freedom out of the artificial boundaries of the rotten society (Krishnamurti 12).
The Illustration to Krishnamurti’s Ideas in Real Life
I agree with the author’s position, as it is rather easy to find the evidence to Krishnamurti’s assumptions in real life. Most of my adult friends got the education to get a well-paid job and have an opportunity to be considered a respected member of society. Even though they had many existential questions in the youth, later the system suppressed their aspirations and made them faceless parts of the machine. Such people fit into the traditional image of a good member of society, but they have little similarity with a happy human being living the life full of meaning. Education gave them professional knowledge and opportunities to earn living through conforming to social standards but did not provide them with the ability to think out of boundaries and search for their unique recipe of purposeful and joyful life.
Conclusion
The analysis of the ideas expressed in the article and the examples illustrating Krishnamurti’s assumptions reveals that the primary function of education is to teach young people to be free and curious, to explore this life in all its beauty and find answers to the vital questions about this world. Otherwise, education serves as a tool for making people conform to standards and live the colorless, meaningless life.
Reference List
Growth in Demand: Total Number of Students in Higher Education. n.d. Web.
Krishnamurti, Jiddu. The Function of Education. 1964. Web.