“Is Modern Education ruining family values?

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By: Mirha Saleem
When I googled the literal meaning of the word education the result came as “The
process of receiving or giving systematic instruction especially at a school or
university.” This really surprised me for I could not understand how such an
exceptional word could have such a confined meaning. This shows how short-
sighted we have become. See education is not merely what we study in institutes
but it is the art of learning and leading a person towards maturity and success.
Education for man is like the lifecycle of a lotus flower. The flower grows at the
bottom of a muddy pool but slowly moves towards the surface until it emerges
out of the water into a beautiful blossom. This is why Allan Bloom an American
philosopher said, “Education is the movement from darkness to light.” Thus, I will
pen down my essay on the basis of this meaning.
Now family is a chain of life which helps us through this struggle for light. I call it a
beautiful phenomenon. Family values which are ethical and moral play a major
role in guiding a person through this journey called life. These values are both
cherished and passed on from one generation to another. They are the true
essence and core of a family. These values cannot be forgotten when they are
embedded deep in your mind. They become a part of your daily life. Perhaps that
is why a basketball player Dikembe Mutombo said, “I come from a large family,
but I was not raised with a fortune. Something more was left me, and that was
family values.”
Now if we observe we will become aware that education and family values are
undoubtedly interrelated. Without the consent of family, education is not
possible and without education importance of family values cannot be showcased
in front of the new generation. An educated person who is well informed about
his society will treasure his family and its traditions. This connection he will pass
on to his child and so on. On the other hand, an illiterate man views the world
from a different perspective. Due to lack in knowledge he sells his soul to survival.
This leads to poverty and struggle which leaves this person in a state of dullness.
He does not have time to think about family values due to which they are
forgotten over time.
The piece of the puzzle that we are missing is that education whether modern or
ancient teaches us the good aspects of the society, opens our eyes, reveals the
truth and leads us to enlightenment. Education hidden in nature, religion or books
teaches us ethics and morality. Thus, blaming modern education for causing a rift
in family bonds is incorrect. If we try to learn we will find that no religion in the
world commands us to break our family ties or destroy family values unless they
are inappropriate. Instead we are told to cherish these values.
The significance of family is also hidden in our mother nature. The problem is that
we fail to perceive this secret concealed by nature. We fail to see how a climber
plant takes the support of a tree to reach for sunlight. Fail to notice how a bird
feeds its little ones in a nest. Fail to see how elephants mourn the death of a herd
member. The truth is, education is all around us.
Now with the clear picture finally in front of us we can make a decision. Does
education really deserve the blame for our complications or the lifestyle we have
chosen for ourselves. How can we blame education when we chose to change,
knowing the consequences?
The blame, in truth, should not be given to “modern” education for corrupting
our minds but our lack of understanding.
Indeed, education is everywhere as it always was and always will be just as John
Dewey once said, “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.”
Then why do we fail to comprehend such messages. The fault lies in our
perception. We are always at the right place at the right time. The only fault lies in
our perception which if corrected can carve a whole new world. That is why Rumi
said;
“I am so small I can barely be seen.
How can this great love be inside me?
Look at your eyes. They are small,
But they see enormous things.”