Issue writing GRE: Some people believe that the purpose of education is to free the mind and the spirit. Others believe that formal education tends to restrain our minds and spirits rather than set them free. Write a response in which you discuss which view more closely aligns with your own position and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should address both of the views presented.

 Education is a light and key that illuminate us to efface our darkness ii in terms of lack of knowledge about related fields—and enlighten us to make us more imbibed with the facts. Although education was classified into many categories according to the situation and culture, formal and non-formal are two types that we are well cognizant. I concede to some extent with the prompt that states as few people believe that purpose of education is to set free the mind and spirit meanwhile, other believe that formal education do not provide that freedom instead cause otherwise.

Firstly, formal education generally means the education that is taught and learn in formal places—like school, college, university—that provide us a label and status that we are engaging in education. But this label has become the restrain among the students as it is tagged with the achievements in the individual life. Formal education is taken as symbol and standard by the society as success sign—if a student is doing well in education institutes he/she will success in future. This orthodox concepts of taking achievement in formal education has prevent iconoclast students to alienate from this education system. For instance, a person who can design automobile, houses and other structure verisimilar to the formally educated architect but do not possess a degree from related faculty, than the knowledge and capability will not  be accepted by the society even though he has the capacity to perform the task similar by the degree holder.

Secondly, in the name of formal education, students are forced to obtain the education and knowledge selected by few people in the name of syllabus which might not be suitable to all people—from different levels and knowledge level. As the sole purpose of education is to free mind and spirit from the single subject matter and well accustomed to diverse range of enlightenment, however the rope of formal education has fettered the free flying mind into the premediated education system—which prevents broad development according to free will. For example, a person who might be interested into spiritualism and practicing of it will not considered as educated by the society because he has not enrolled into school to obtain the formal education system. Such concept and mindset will impede the overall development and will excise the individual freedom for education.

However, some might argue that formal education instead of restraining individual provide a well-constructed path so that no-one will loss on the path of enlighten by education and make sure that everyone gets the same level pod education. While some claim that it snatches the freedom of learning in individual level, it provides a well-built path so that educating and learning can be easy, compatible and aligned with the trend. For example, if any students want to pursue career on medicine, freewill will not lead that students to his destination. He needs proper formal education and well guided by a tutor so that the learning can be effective and reliable.

In sum, leaning can be hinder if formal education Is coerced on individual –freedom should be made in choosing the type of education system a individual want to choose—so that a mindset compulsion of formal education will be check. Even though formal education is conceived as impediment to freeing mind and spirit, proper guide to free the mind and spirit also required which is not drastically different than formal education.