How can education help man in his struggle for survival and that of others?
5/17/20256 min read
Introduction
From the moment of his appearance on Earth, man has used patterns of behavior aimed at ensuring his own survival and that of others. Using methods based on his understanding of himself and his environment, he learned how to survive. The means used from the beginning allowed him to lead a harmonious life. During this animistic period, in which he lived in communion with nature, he fed on natural products and lived for hundreds of years. Man lived in harmony with his fellow beings and with nature. This honeymoon would come to an end during the polytheistic era. This era marked a rupture in human and natural harmony and the beginning of extraordinary calamities. Social divisions emerged. Individual and clan-based struggles arose for social control and the wealth of humanity. This paradigm shift initiated man's decline while also ushering in a glimmer of prosperity. This new philosophy led mankind toward harmful wars and natural and human-made catastrophes. In the midst of these upheavals, man invented new ways of thinking, behaving, and acting. These ways were grouped and labeled under the term "education." For millennia, this system was never structured with the goal of improving human life. However, the application of certain human values, certain knowledge, learning methods, the development of curiosity, and access to useful knowledge allow man to survive in an increasingly chaotic and uncertain world.
Education includes several components such as: the acquisition of values and knowledge, and the application of this knowledge and these values. The institutions primarily responsible for education are the state and the family. Other social institutions also play a role in education. Education can improve human living conditions as long as the state and other involved institutions emphasize its importance and implement means to achieve specific goals. The educational models imposed by the state reflect the political, social, and economic system of the society it governs. The effectiveness of the education system depends on the values promoted by the state and society. It also depends on the goals pursued. Even when the state and social education systems are ineffective, individuals can use resources that enable them to survive and improve their conditions. These resources are conveyed through various social sectors.
Role of the Family – Family Education
The first notions of education are conveyed by the family. The family environment is crucial in a child's education. The child plays an active role in their educational development as they absorb all the data from their environment. If parents do not structure the environment properly, the child absorbs thoughts, emotions, and actions that are detrimental to their educational well-being. The period from birth to age five is a critical phase for the child, as their consciousness is not yet developed. Lacking this vital tool, the child registers both negative and positive observations from their environment. The family provides the child with initial behavioral concepts by teaching them to understand their environment and instilling values like morality and reason. Parents teach the child certain behaviors, suppress inappropriate ones, and encourage them to adopt suitable behaviors. These behavioral foundations enable the child to live in harmony with themselves and society. They shape the child’s personality and play a crucial role throughout all stages of life. However, this education is not always solid, and in many cases, parents fail to provide adequate family education. This failure results from the parents’ lack of preparation for the task of educating their children and from the irresponsibility of the state and educational institutions that neglect or do not prioritize family education.
Role of the School
The school education system established by the state includes resources for educating society. In social systems favoring the domination of the wealthy classes, the education system does not define goals aligned with the application of fundamental human values and the full development of the individual. Instead, it emphasizes acquiring knowledge necessary for learning a trade or profession. Such a system obliges children to study subjects such as literature, social sciences, science, and mathematics, while other equally important subjects in a child's development are neglected or made optional. Subjects like health sciences, financial education, family education, cooking, etc., should be mandatory. School education should not focus solely on acquiring skills for a profession. It should also provide knowledge necessary for improving one’s personal life. Teaching health sciences enables children to acquire knowledge essential for maintaining spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
Health Education
Children should know which foods promote good health and which do not. Emphasis should be placed on the dangers of consuming processed foods and excessive salt and sugar. The consumption of vegetables and fruits should be encouraged, as they contain minerals, proteins, vitamins, and all the elements necessary for a healthy body. Moreover, they help prevent numerous illnesses like hypertension and diabetes. Food should not merely be seen as a means to satisfy hunger and cravings but also as medicine. Food is medicine.
Spiritual health should not be neglected because man is also a spiritual being. Children should be aware of recent research on spirituality, the intersection between science and spirituality, and the role of quantum physics and energy fields in understanding the physical world, the spiritual realm, human nature, and the relationships between man and nature. The works and theories of great thinkers in these various fields should be studied. The learning and application of meditation techniques and energy medicine should be encouraged. These forms of knowledge and techniques have multiple benefits, as they help improve spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical health. Spiritual health is defined as the harmony between body and spirit. Mental health is defined by the absence of mental disorders and the effective functioning of cognitive capacities such as perception, memory, consciousness, and reasoning. Emotional health is defined by the presence of positive emotions like joy, enthusiasm, and peace, and the absence of negative emotions like apathy, anxiety, and anger. Physical health is defined by the absence of physical ailments and a feeling of well-being.
Domestic Education
Schools should provide children with the knowledge necessary for maintaining a household. Knowledge about family education, cooking, housekeeping, task sharing, and home economics should be taught. Family mutual support should also be emphasized. Parents must be equipped with the necessary knowledge to educate their children. Schools should provide children (future parents) with knowledge about raising a newborn and the various stages of a child's life. It is also the role of the school to teach children how to manage a household. A household is an organization. The smooth running of an organization requires sound and effective management. Practicing such management requires acquiring the necessary knowledge.
A household is made up of human and material resources. The success of a household depends on the good management of both. The household staff consists of the father, the mother, and the children. In some cases, the father or mother is absent. The tasks of such an organization are numerous. These include education, economics, task distribution, physical environment maintenance, and the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical well-being of the household. The father and mother represent the leaders of the household. The children and other household members are subordinates. Each household member can have a role. Generally, the father is known as the head of the household, assisted by the mother. Children should also have roles in the household. They should be considered integral members of the household. From a young age, children should be given certain domestic tasks. They must learn to maintain a clean and orderly home. This begins with keeping their own room clean and organized. They should participate in other household tasks such as cleaning shared spaces and preparing meals.
Financial Management
Financial management is an important part of household management. The husband and wife must agree on how to share household expenses in a way that satisfies both parties. A household is an organization like any other. Its management should not be improvised. Therefore, reason, morality, formal and informal knowledge can be of great help. In any organization with income and expenses, these elements should be balanced. The balance can be positive, neutral, or negative. The balance is positive when income exceeds expenses. It is neutral when income equals expenses. It is negative when expenses exceed income. When the balance is negative, measures must be taken to make it positive. For example, unnecessary expenses can be eliminated, such as reducing or eliminating restaurant outings. One can bring lunch to work instead of buying it. It is also important to check the amounts on bills. Financial charges should be reviewed to see if they are accurate. Sometimes, they contain errors. For example, verify whether television, phone, and internet charges match what should be paid. The same goes for electricity and water bills. Contact the relevant services to discuss any discrepancies. If not satisfied with the first employee you speak to, ask to speak with a supervisor. It is essential to read all bills and bank statements to verify the accuracy of the figures.
To get finances in order, it is essential to create a budget. This budget should list all monthly expenses. Efforts must be made to stick to this budget — that is, not to make purchases outside it. One must also learn to create a budget for all purchases: food, clothing, etc. Always check receipts to see if the amounts are correct. After paying for groceries in a supermarket, the cashier gives a receipt. Check whether the prices on the receipt are accurate. Sometimes, you may be overcharged. If that happens, go to the counter to make your claim.
(To be continued)