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Philosophical and Sociological Foundations of Education

Notes 2. Education is a Continuous Process—second fact as expressed by sociologists is that, education keeps
on happening in the society. Soon after birth, human being start receiving education and keeps going
on till his last. If we see in detail, then member of society (individual) peril, but system of education
keeps moving forward generations after generations. It never takes rest. Hence, continuity is it’s
another characteristic.
3. Education is a Bi-polar Process- as per sociologists, in the process of education, when side affects and
another gets affected. Hence, it is clear that education is a bi-polar process. As per them, education
has two poles-one which affects (teacher) and another which gets affected (student). American
academician john Dewey also accepts it-one psychological and another social. By psychological, he
means the interest, inclination and ability of the learner and by social organ, they mean its social
environment. But as per our experience, not only social environment but natural environment also
affects the process of learning. In the context of planned education, teachers, objectives of education,

academic discussions and method of education too are influential element. Learning and teaching
all these things are called situation. It would be proper to say that process of education happens
between situations of learner and teacher.
4. Education is the process of Development—innate human behavior is like animals. With education,

his behavior is modified and refined. If we look into detail then we find that humans keep this

experience safe with the medium of language and hands it over to next generation. Coming generation
moves even ahead with this knowledge and adds its own knowledge and experience. This is how,
development of any society’s civilization and culture takes place. It is not possible in the absence of
education. It is clear that education is the process of development. We should understand one thing
here that every creature of the world learns to move, eat and speak by living and emulating within its
own species. Consider life of animals and birds. Soon after their birth, they start to learn the ways of
eating, moving and flying like their species, but this act of theirs is confined only to the synergy with

environment for self defense mechanism, but in case of humans, education not only teaches them to
have synergy with environment, but also develops their ability to develop conducive environment
as suitable for them. By education, there is a constant change in the lifestyle, eating & thoughts and
in the methods and tools of making an easy and comfortable life for humans. Another name for this
development is education. Thus, it is clear that human education is the process of development, not
of animals.
5. Education is a Dynamic Process—with help of education, humans keep developing its civilization
and culture. For this development, one generation hands over its knowledge and skill sets to another.
For this transfer, each society plans for the social academic education. Hence, objectives, syllabus

and method of education are defined for any particular time period. But as society keeps changing,
education keeps accepting those changes and moves forward. Thus, its objective, syllabus and
method of education keep changing as per requirement. This is its dynamism. Had education not
been dynamic, we would not have developed and grown.
Some academicians have defined education on the basis of above facts only. In the words of Indian

thinker Bhairav Nath Jha—
Education is a process, a social function carried on and by the society for its own sake. —B.N. Jha

Famous academic Sociologist Ottoway has defined education as following by incorporating both nature
and function of education—
The whole process of education is the interaction between individuals and social groups, with
certain ends in view for the development of the individual —A.K.C. Ottoway
As per academic sociologists, humans bring in appropriate changes in society with education only.
T. Raymond has defined education by keeping across this view point-

Education is the process of development, which consists of passage of human being from infancy to
maturity, the process by which he adapts himself gradually in various ways to his physical, social
and spiritual environment. —T. Raymond

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