The Aims of Education

PERSPECTIVES IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE Volume 33 ¦ Number 4 ¦ Summer 1990 THE AIMS OF EDUCATION SAMUEL HELLMAN* This lecture is historically given to the matriculating freshman class. "The Aims of Education" derives its title from an address by Alfred North Whitehead in 1917. To follow such a famous philosopher and such an ambitious titlejust begins to suggest the pretentiousness possible in this lecture. The possibility that the three P's—pretention, pomposity, and platitudes—may form the substance of this presentation causes me to approach the subject with trepidation. I do not wish to be guilty of any of the P's, but, in attempting to avoid them, I do not want to be guilty of the three T's—triviality, triteness, and timidity. I shall try to walk a road between these consonants, expecting to step occasionally to either side, while I verbalize what I believe to be the aims of this portion of your educational experience. We Americans have a curious view of the beginnings and ends of portions of the educational experience. Graduation is often called "commencement " to signify that it is the beginning of the next phase of life. Speeches given on that occasion usually do not reflect on previous education but, rather, emphasize the future and the graduates' place within it, although occasionally describing how the educational experience has prepared the student. It is this forward, optimistic view that so characterizes the American system with its special emphasis on progress, change, and the future. It is of interest that graduation usually occurs in the spring, a time of new growth and renewal in nature. This address was presented to the matriculating freshman class of the College during orientation, Rockefeller Chapel, University of Chicago, September 25, 1989. *Dean, Division of Biological Sciences and Pritzker School of Medicine, 5841 Maryland Avenue, Box 417, Chicago, Illinois 60637.© 1990 by The University of Chicago. AU rights reserved. 0031-5982/90/3304-0707$01 .00 Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, 33, 4 ¦ Summer 1990 \ 469 What, then, are we to do with this event? Matriculation or enrollment is clearly a time of beginning; however, it occurs in the autumn of the year. Shall we contrast it with graduation being commencement by suggesting that matriculation into college is the end of something? It, like graduation, is both an end and a beginning. It marks the end of that part of education concerned with providing the rudiments necessary to be adequately prepared to function in society. What is beginning is higher education, to be experienced in a different way. You will be expected to accept much greater responsibility for yourself and your education. This greater freedom, accompanied by responsibility, is characteristic of adulthood. If you are to enter this period of your life it is appropriate for you to ask the purpose of college; thus, a talk entitled "The Aims of Education." Of course, you realize that the undergraduate years are only a small part of the educational experience; but these are special years. Before going any further, you should understand that it is my belief that all views of education are largely autobiographical. This one will be no different. I believe that this personal view of what is best in education prevails because education in itself, especially undergraduate education, is so exhilarating, pleasant, and exciting. We remember it with such affection that we want others to share such an experience. We believe our educational experience to be the paradigm for undergraduate education in general. Second, since all of our educational experiences are limited, we know best that which we have observed and in which we have participated. Within the multitude of institutions of higher education, the undergraduate curriculum is organized in many different ways. The stuff of undergraduate education is so intrinsically compelling that it is, in my experience, very difficult to offer an unsatisfactory collegiate experience . This brings great solace to educators, especially when engaging in curricular reform. It should, one hopes, give you some sense of security. It will be difficult for us to make these college years unattractive . There is even the reasonable possibility that the mix of substance and pedagogy will be synergistic and enhance the experience...