Question- “Education is a social and dynamic process.” Explain this statement.

Ans.

“Education is a social and dynamic process” –  Education is the main reason behind mankind development. Education aids in developing basic qualities of man, enhancing knowledge and skills and bring change in behavioural aspects of the same, which makes him civilized, well-mannered and eligible resident and this process of development starts from the birth of man. Child’s basic education starts from the family he belongs to. Child’s very first teacher is her / his mother. Thereafter, other members of his / her family play the role of teacher who in time develop the ability of communicative skills and behave in the same way like his / her family members do. A child when grows up, is sent to school where his / her education starts in a well-organised manner. This cycle of learning and teaching lasts even of his / her quits school. This continuous process of learning and teaching running in any society is called education.

Nature of Educational Process – As per sociological concepts, nature of educational process can be understood in following ways –

1. Education is a Social Process – Sociologist has stated that when two or more persons indulge in social activities, they often get inspired by one’s language, views or behaviour. This process of acknowledging each other’s perspective is called an act of learning and when this process is repeated with the aim to fulfill certain goals, then this process is later known as education.
   
   This is the universal truth that when a man born, he is equipped with basic qualities necessary to survive in this world. Natural and social environment aid in enhancing the core qualities of man which in turn being changes in the behavioural aspect of man. For example, man being born with ability of sound, later learns to communicate and exchange thoughts of the company he enjoys most. Development of mankind and culture totally depends upon the process of education system. This is also true that after acknowledging communicative skills and various senses, man independently develops the ability to think, analyses and tests the knowledge gained by him. But for this procedure to happen in actual, it is absolutely necessary to develop senses and other requisite skills necessary to survive in the social environment.
   
   People in absence of society lacks communicative skills and thinking ability. Sociologists defined education as a means of fulfilling aims and objectives of the society. Arrangement of education depends upon the type of society and its goals. With this point of view education is a social process.

2. Education is a Continuous Process – In respect of education, sociologist revealed the fact that education is an everlasting process of society. Basic education starts from the child birth but his / her primary education starts after elapse of few days. Man keeps on educating himself until he dies and if we see it with broader perspective, as life cycle continues, so do education continues across generations. It never stops. Thus, continuity is in fact a second aim of education.

3. Education s Developmental Process – Man is primate by birth. Education aids in bringing about change and refinement in primal aspects of man. If we see this in broader perspective man tends to pass on his views or experiences to next generation stored previously with the help of languages known to him. Next generation reap the benefits of older generations and like their ancestors, they too save their experiences for forthcoming generations. This mechanism helps in developing culture and civilization of any society. Absence of education make all this impossible. Thus, we can say that education is one of the factor necessary for growth of any society as a whole.

4. Education is an Adaptable Process – With the aid of education, man continuously develops civilization and culture. So, cities develop schools for transmission of knowledge across generations. Schools in advance conduct periodical exams, prepare timetables and teaching methods but all these are again subject to changeable norms after society. This changeable aspect is often regarded as adaptable ability of the society. If our education system was rigid, then we would not have evolved. This concept of education established it as an adaptable process.

5. Education is a Two-way Process – Sociologists suggest that there are two parties in the field of education. One party affects education process while the other party reaps the benefits of hardships done by the first party. Whole procedure of teaching revolves around these two points. American educationist John Divi categorised education in two parts – social and psychological. Psychological aspect of education relates to learner’s interest, liking, power etc. while social aspect of education relates to sociological environment.

• Thus, we can say that process of education also gets affected by environmental and social aspects.

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