Should Education Promote Learning Outside the Classroom?

Education should promote learning outside the classroom as well as within.
Describe a specific situation in which education might justifiably not promote learning outside the classroom. Discuss what you think determines whether or not education should foster learning outside the classroom.
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The educational system plays a crucial role in the development of a nation. In particular, education within the classroom promotes important goals in society, such as nurturing citizen who can take care of themselves as adults, exhibit loyalty to the nation, and drive innovation and the economy. Lessons in the core curriculum of math, reading, science and history are designed to further the growth of children so they can develop into well-functioning adults of society. Education, however, should not only promote learning within the classroom---it should equally encourage learning outside the classroom because not all life skills can be covered by the school system.

Traditional curriculum of the classroom serves to promote skills that will allow citizens to function in a literate world. The skills of reading and performing simple mathematics will help serve people's sense of independence and ability to do basic tasks outside the house, such as shopping and finding one's way around a city. However, certain life skills cannot be covered by the school system and are better learned outside the classroom. This includes developing "street smarts" or the ability to protect oneself in an uncertain environment. This also includes "people smarts" or the ability to read others and socialize with people. One can also develop a sense of civic responsibility out side the classroom by volunteering for various causes in society.

If the system promotes learning in the classroom as the only method of education, it will encourage one-sided citizens. Citizens that are limited in their ability to approach practical situations that cannot be learned through books. Citizens that cannot work well in groups or handle social situations. Indeed, education should also inspire curiosity of the world outside the classroom---particularly, an appreciation for students' surroundings and nature.

Indeed, the ways to learn outside the classroom are endless. Education, however, should not promote ALL types of learning outside the classroom. For example, first-hand experience of certain things and acts that could endanger children should not be encouraged. Undoubtedly, the best way to learn about sex and drugs is to engage in them but schools should not promote this type of experimentation. They should, however, have the responsibility of somehow warning about the dangers of certain activities via the traditional curriculum.

In general, education should also value the type of learning that can be achieved outside the classroom. Indeed, the school system(ideally) aims to level the playing field by providing children with lessons of reading and numbers that may not necessarily be learned at home. However, the system should also stress to students that learning also occurs outside the classroom and will help them develop in a well-rounded manner.