The Educational Heritage of the United Kingdom

Part 1 (assignment) 

Protestant influence was instrumental in shaping people’s views on education, especially its nature. It encouraged the thought that education has to be an individual initiative and individuals should not just wait to be taught. There was also an emphasis on education that matches individuals’ interests as well as their personal nature. It was not to match the interest of the church but the likes of an individual. Closely related to this, the church widely believed that education should match the child’s talent. Through meeting individual’s needs, there was a chance to uphold individual values other than differentiating instructions and ending up raising a child like a machine. The ideas by reformers also influenced thoughts on who is responsible for education. From education ideas that emanated from reformers, it was believed that teachers, the church and parents were instrumental in the education process. From then, there was an advocacy of the teaching of a broad range of subjects, emphasis on its practicality and education to be for everyone. 

Part 2 (Discussion) 

Rhetoric was the most crucial curriculum subject because of its central role in the political and social context. It was instrumental in instilling persuasive skills in individuals who would then be able to influence the public through debate and, in some cases, effectively defend themselves in court. It was also instrumental in making education a practical undertaking. Proponents of rhetoric, for example, Aristotle, viewed the three forms of persuasions, ethos, pathos and logos, as central in influencing people. Given that he emphasized practical education, rhetoric was an example in which education could be easily translated to real life. Closely related to this, rhetoric was important in discovering things beyond what an individual possesses in their brain. This was through the endorsement of logic. It was possible to diversify knowledge acquisition by undertaking subjects such as mathematics and physical education through logic.