Defining "Well-Educated"

After analyzing Alfie Kohn’s article; “What Does It Mean to Be Well-Educated?” I found this article very interesting. Society has often labeled many as well-educated and uneducated. Who gives Society the right to define who we are? According to the Free Dictionary, it gives one meaning of well-educated as “Possessing an education having more than average knowledge.”2. How can we define being educated verses’ being well-educated? Kohn insists “The Point of Schooling: Rather than attempting to define what it means to be well-educated, should we instead be asking about the purposes of education?” 1. Must one be considered well-educated who obtain a degree or specializes in a certain field of interest, at a prestige institution of higher learning?

While growing up in the rural area of Louisiana in the 1960’s, my parents always emphasized the importance of having an education. My parents never finish school, their education cease during high school. Does this make my parents uneducated? I simply disagree. My parents are full of wisdom, which has been given from life experiences. I can remember many times when my Dad would seat the family together and read the Bible to the family often. My Dad, a Minister of God’s Word has a wealth of knowledge, which I can never learn in any school. Believing the Words of God, made a difference in how my parents chose to raise their children and how I can respond to Kohn’s article. I was taught not to judge any person and seek the Lord for guidance. My Amplified Bible states in Proverbs 9:10 “The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding.” 4. In other words, my parents became intimat...

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...g well-educated can be anyone having a wealth of knowledge in any area in education or life.

REFERENCES

1. Alfie Kohn. "What Does It Mean to Be Well-Educated?" Principal Leadership, March 2003. http://www.alfiekohn.org/teaching/welleducated.htm. (accessed February 2, 2011)

2. Farlex. The Free Dictionary by Farlex. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/well-educated (accessed February 6, 2011)

3. Sabrina. "What does it mean to be well-educated?" Failing School, Failing School Project. http://http://failingschools.wordpress.com/2010/09/10/what-does-it-mean-to-be-well-educated/ (accessed February 4, 2011)

4. The Amplified Bible. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan & The Lockman Foundation, [1987]. Prov. 9:10.

5. Wikimedia Foundation, Incorporated, Wikipedia. http://http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dewey?wasRedirected=true. (accessed February 6, 2011)