What are the Effects of Education on Society?
Education, in its broadest sense, is the transfer of knowledge from one person to another. In this respect, education can be seen as a catalyst for a developed society. People learn and grow through education.
The Effects of Public Education on Societies When one caveman taught another how to use the wheel, carts were built and made transportation easier. This reduced workload freed up time for other activities such as drawing. It also connected one group to another. Therefore, only the transfer of knowledge caused society to turn into civilized grouping.
After writing was developed, human societies created an education system that was the precursor to what is known today as public education. Public education or government-provided education is widely offered around the world. Elementary schooling is compulsory in the United States, and individual states set the legal school leaving age (16 youngest per National Center for Education Statistics) and required credit limits. Ergo, public education is a huge government expense, as almost every child deserves. It is because of its theorized societal benefits that governments go over the bill for public education.
One of the main arguments of public education is that as individuals in a society become more knowledgeable, the entire population becomes more knowledgeable. As students socialize with each other and participate in team activities, they learn to work together and be for the benefit of the group. This prepares them to work towards community goals. In a report prepared for the Education Law Center, its effect on society as a whole was called the spillover effect. As individuals benefited from education, so did society. One of the most compelling benefits to splash into society is a reduced crime rate. There is substantial evidence that the relationship is causal.
Another important societal benefit is better health. Public school systems encourage healthy eating habits and healthy personal habits such as hand washing, and discourage negative habits such as smoking and recreational drug use. This led to a statement published by the World Health Organization saying that public education directly contributes to the overall health of society. Public education is thought to increase the acceptance of diversity and the possibility of civic participation later in life.
Impacts of Higher Education on the US Society There is also a relationship between higher education (tech/community college or university) and outreach. Higher education leads to innovation and critical thinking that benefits U.S. society by increasing their gross domestic product as well as improving lives through technological advances in countless industries. Also, populated communities with higher levels of education tend to have lower rates of poverty and infant mortality. These adults generally do better jobs, are less likely to use social safety net programs, and are more likely to increase taxpayer income. The public is also more likely to vote and participate in civic events, according to the College Board.
