The Educated and the Learned Person

What does it mean to be an “educated person?”  Education is a process of facilitating learning—the gaining of knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and habits.  Storytelling, discussion, teaching, training, and research are ways in which education takes place.  Education can happen in formal and informal settings.  Any experience that affects the way one thinks, feels, or acts is educational.  But when we think of “education” we typically think of schooling:  formal (school, college), vocational (preparing to people to work in a trade, a craft, or as a technician), and alternative education (homeschooling, charter schools).  But education takes place in every life situation and circumstance whenever and wherever learning is facilitated. The ancient Aztecs thought of education as “the art of raising a person” or “the art of strengthening or bringing up men.” 

What does it mean to be a “learned person?” To be a “learned person” means to be admitted to membership in some scholarly field; or to be someone who by long study or practice has gained mastery in one or more subjects.  A learned person may gain mastery over a particular subject (have knowledge of a certain field of knowledge) but may be devoid of values and practical skills. The licensed mechanic who can repair my vehicle is a learned person, but may know little about quantum physics.  A surgeon is a learned person, but may know little about automotive mechanics.  The certified electrician is a learned person, but may have little understanding of history.  Each has gained mastery in their particular work and have been admitted (certified) to membership in their particular area of expertise (scholarly or otherwise).  They have been educated in a specific field or skill, but may not have been educated in terms of beliefs and values, etc.  

The first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.  They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.  Article 2 of the Declaration states: “Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms…These fundamental and inalienable rights are the entitlement of all human beings regardless of their nation, location, language, religion, ethnic origin or any other status.”  The Aztecs knew what they were talking about.  Education is “the art of raising a person.”  We are not yet “learned persons” or “educated persons” no matter our degrees, skills, knowledge, values, beliefs, and habits, until we have learned the art of raising persons (all persons) to their fulfillment as human beings.