The Difference Between Schooling and Education

There is a difference between schooling and education.

Schooling happens during a particular season of life. It generally takes place between the ages of five and eighteen, includes certain subjects, and relies on grades and examinations to move from one level to the next. Or, at least, it used to. More on that another time.

Education, however, is much broader.

Here is a simple analogy: schooling is like a structured prayer meeting that happens at a specific time each week—perhaps the Ladies' Rosary Group that gathers on Tuesday evenings from six to seven o'clock. Education is the lifelong commitment to the habits and practices of spiritual fitness that shape us both in and beyond those meetings. Schooling provides foundational tools; education is how we apply them to live rich and meaningful lives. It is our formation.

Education gives momentum and context to our lives. It includes schooling, certainly, but it also encompasses everything else that shapes the whole person: our relationships, emotional development, work, travel, joys, disappointments, responsibilities, and the countless ways we learn to move through the world with wisdom and grace.

Many adults stop learning when they leave school. Sometimes perception stands in the way. We believe we do not have enough time, or that learning only matters if it directly improves our income. Without grades, syllabi, examinations, and externally imposed structure, we may struggle to recognize learning when it no longer resembles the classrooms of our youth.

For others, the barriers are more personal. Pride can keep us from admitting what we do not know. Fear of failure—or even fear of success—can discourage us from trying something new. Embarrassment, vulnerability, and imposter syndrome often whisper that we are too old, too busy, or too inexperienced to begin again.

This is where the virtues can become faithful companions.

The relationship between virtue and knowledge is deeply intertwined. We first encounter the virtues by learning their definitions and considering how they relate to one another. Over time, we begin applying them to our own lives. Studying hope encourages us to persevere. Courage helps us attempt difficult things. Prudence teaches us to seek wise counsel from those who have gone before us and to discern our next steps with care.

Perhaps the very virtues cultivated through education become the means by which we continue it.

I also think grades and examinations sometimes receive an unfair reputation because we misunderstand their purpose. Too often, they become measures of worth rather than snapshots of understanding at a particular moment in time.

I had a ballet teacher who would say before every written, oral, or practical examination, "Show me what you know."

I have never forgotten it.

Standardized examinations such as the ACT, SAT, MCAT, LSAT, and GMAT can be understood in much the same way. They provide information about a student's readiness for a particular course of study. They are imperfect tools, but tools nonetheless.

After all, you are simply showing what you know.

Perhaps this is the great relief hidden within lifelong education: you do not have to have all the answers.

Children offer us this gift every day.

They ask questions. They notice inconsistencies. They wonder aloud about things adults have long stopped considering. When you do not know the answer, you can simply say, "You know, I don't know that. Let's find out together."

Then go do it.

You are not less of a parent, teacher, or leader because you do not know everything. In fact, your children will often delight in the shared adventure of discovery. One question leads to another, and before long you find yourselves learning side by side.

Education is available to us in a thousand ordinary moments.

Travel together. Read aloud, silently, and even through audiobooks. Invite your children into the work of maintaining a home. Teach them how to prepare a meal, care for a pet, write a thank-you note, or organize the pantry. Include them in conversations about budgeting and taxes. Bake a birthday cake for a friend. Volunteer at the local food bank. Spend time with those who are grieving. Pray together regularly as a family. Teach them to notice beauty, practice generosity, and make room for others.

Even decluttering can become an education—though you may want to double-check that the math workbook has not accidentally made its way into the donation box.

Schooling occupies a season of life.

Education is the work of a lifetime.

And perhaps one of its greatest gifts is this: no matter our age or circumstances, we are always invited to begin again.