Who Invented Education?: The Origin of Education

Education has been one of the most important features of human society since its inception, though the manner in which it is done has changed with time. The history of education could be described as one full of creativity and evolution whereby several critical junctures have affected the ways in which knowledge is transmitted. This paper investigates these critical turning points and maps the changes in the dominant systems of education over the ages.

The Origins of Formal Education

There is no doubt that formal education commenced in ancient periods. Thus, in Mesopotania, the first available schools were being established since 3500BCE. The Sumerians had a system of record keeping including cuneiform script which was the first for documenting such activities pertaining to education. The prime objective of these early institutions was to prepare scribes and priests who were instrumental in recording events and performing tasks related to religion.

In the same way, in the country of ancient Egypt the process of education was associated with religion and governance. Institutions whose business was to teach writing and drawing specifications were highly useful in running the huge empire which required vast resources. Such Organizations were crucial in the upkeep of order in society as well as the continuation of knowledge.

Ancient Greece and philosophy history. Classical Greece is often considered a turning point in the development of education. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle are considered the founders of Western educational philosophy. It was Socrates who, using the method of Socratic dialectics, made the process of knowledge acquisition dramatically different by declaring the need to first question everything. His student, Plato, came back to Athens in 387 BC, where he also established the Academy, the first institution of higher education in the western world. His student, Aristotle, created the Lyceum that also introduced new methods of teaching and new areas of study.

Among them were ideas which became educational theory and practice adopted by philosophers whose vision was a wholistic education that embraced philosophy, mathematics, and sciences.

The middle ages: monastic and scholastic education. In Europe during the middle ages, the c and cathedral education systems were the main forms of teaching. The subjects of monastic education consisted of training in the faith, maintaining the knowledge of the ancients and teaching the scriptures. The monastic schools played a significant role in the acquisition and transmission of knowledge during the turbulent times of very low societal order and high levels of political instability.

The emergence of universities in the 12th and 13th centuries brought about yet another notable milestone in the educational development index. Some of these institutions of higher learning better known as the University of Bologna, Italy, which was founded in 1088 the University of Oxford opened its doors in 1096 while the University of Paris started its operations around 1150 became important as places of education. These sort of universities regulated curriculum and degrees and created basis for higher education in the modern sense

The Renaissance as the Period of the Revival of Learning

The Renaissance which took place in the 14th – 17th century was characterized by revival of classical learning and humanistic scholarship. In this period, famous men like Erasmus arose who advocated for changes in the education system incorporating knowledge of the ancients.

In 1440, Johannes Gutenberg made the greatest contribution to the advancement of education with the development of the printing press. People were now able to produce books in large numbers hence learning materials became cheaper and more people could access the ideas.

The Enlightenment and Modern Education

The Enlightenment is a period of the 17th and 18th centuries that had an impact on educational philosophy. It was philosophical views upheld by thinkers likeing John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau that education serves to produce rational and moral beings. Ideas of tabula rasa proposed by Locke and the Emile's Educational Philosophy of Rousseau were radical and certain disrupted the status quo as well as shaped the current educational concepts.

The emergence of state sponsored public education in the nineteenth century was a turning point in the chronicles of education. Horace Mann who was an American educator campaigned and promoted education for all children which was free of any form of discrimination. His campaigns saw the creation of public schooling in the United States which enabled more people to go learning.

The 20th Century and Beyond: Educational Reform and Innovation.

It is during this time that the most notable changes happened in education concepts and class and the practice of education. Progressive education is marked with Dewey’s influence on education and is characterized with practical and hands-on learning. It was Dewey’s influence that shifted Robins to center on educational reforms focusing on the students and the use of education in practice.

Modern education would not have been as it is today without the progress made in technologies. For example, a computer, the internet, and online courses changed the way one could have information adressed or retrieved. Learning through Correspondence or E-learning has improved the delivery of education, as learners are not restricted to location, physical structure or even the fees demanded by conventional learning facilities.

Conclusion

The historical development of education is one which comprises facts, theories and changes that occurred over time. Progressing from the onset of civilizations to the aging of the digital technology, each phase has been able to put forth various educational systems that determine how knowledge is acquired and passed on amongst the people. With increased development in the spiritual and practical aspects of life, so will new ways of education come still in a quest for man’s understanding.

Education, in its various ways, is still continuing in transformation due to values and interests in societies. In order to prepare for the prospects, it is wise to appreciate posit that certain people cherish the past and the progress which made way for the enhancement and now in modern approaches.