What is the aim of Education?Whitehead states in his address that life is the only subject-matter for education,and education should be useful."life" and "utillization" are the two key words for us to have a thorough grasp of Whitehead's educational ideas,and they are closely related to each other in nature,for life must be useful.By utilising an idea,Whitehead means relating it to our life.The conclusion is that education is the acquisition of the art of the utilisation of knowledge.
And what kills the life of education?Whitehead lists several problems he sees:Education is overladen with inert ideas,and education with inert ideas is useless,harmful and so deadly.The problem of preventing knowledge from becoming inert,is the central problem of all education; Another similar problem is that the curriculum is especially designed for a general culture,that will for sure excludes specialism,which destroys life.That's why the uniform external examination is so deadly,for it is to give equal weight to all parts of the schedule,yet mankind is naturally specialist.
And what is his suggestion to the solution?The solution is to eradicate the fatal disconnection of subjects which kills the vitality of our modern curriculum.for this,Whitehead gives two practical educational commandments,"Do not teach too many subjects," and again,"What you teach,teach thoroughly." Finally,Whitehead concludes that it is the schools and not the students which should be inspected.Each school must have its own special,not rigid curriculum.The school is the true educational unit.