by April J.

Created on: August 04, 2008

Providing an exceptional education to the young people of a nation should be the goal of every teacher, of every educational institution, and of every government of every country in the world. While this fact is not often disputed, what is often disputed is just what exactly constitutes a good education. In this article I will provide a framework for what I believe is the way to provide an excellent education to a country's young people.

WELL-ROUNDEDNESS

When you think about a "well educated" person, what comes to mind? Likely, it is the image of someone who is knowledgeable on a wide range of topics. They are well-mannered, are able to communicate well verbally and in writing, are up-to-date on current events and politics, are able to solve problems, and may also be "cultured", possessing knowledge of topics of interest such as music, the arts, and possibly other languages.

Education should provide the learner with well-roundedness, including not only the basics such as math and science but also an understanding of the arts, politics, current events and critical analysis. A well-rounded education provides a balance and enables the individual to see how things in the world fit together in the "big picture". It gives them the confidence to learn new things and helps them to find their own individual skills and interests. The more topics and techniques available for learning, the better.

INSPIRATION

You can have the most intelligent teacher in their field but if they are incapable of inspiring their students the students will not excel to their full potential. Children come into the world as infinitely curious creatures, with brains primed for soaking up information and learning. The trick is to keep them excited about learning through elementary and high school as well. This sounds simple, but it is, in my mind, one of the biggest challenges facing the education system today.

With so many different learning styles and learning speeds, it can be hard to keep everyone excited and engaged. As well, social aspects come into play. In North America, it is often seen as undesirable to be smart, and there is currently a problem culture-wide with anti-intellectualism and anti-science attitudes. Children who do well may be labeled negatively by their peers, and may as a result lose their enthusiasm for learning. It is going to continue to be a major challenge dealing with these types of problems and helping young people have the courage to challenge themselves, and the courage

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