The purpose of education is to impart both the knowledge and skills necessary for living in our modern world. Learning, like critical thinking, should ignite a flame in students that is a desire to learn, instead of stifling that desire with rote memorization. Just as Plato proposed that people must come out of the caves of their own reality, students must be brought out of their caves and exposed to the sun by their guides who are teachers. Education is the process by which students learn more about themselves and the world around them. Aristotle proposed that the purpose of education is to help a person reach his or her potential. Without education, learners may not reach their full potential; they may feel like something is missing in their life. Although education does not lead directly to happiness, as Aristotle posited, it opens the door to many opportunities that a person would not have had before. Education is important to a society because it creates an environment in which ideas can be discussed, discovered and decided correctly. Not only is education important to society as a whole, but it is also the cornerstone of a healthy democratic society. A society that does not emphasize education will stagnate. Education is essential not only for humanity, but also for democratic society. A democratic society needs educated people. Students need to be educated, not only because they may be called upon to make important decisions that affect their society, but also because through their education they can prevent their government from becoming corrupt. Thomas Jefferson said in his Notes on the State of Virginia that: "All government degenerates when entrusted to the rulers of the world...... middle of paper ...... better, education should be a way to prepare students for the world and for their own lives. Every person has great potential which only needs to be encouraged by a competent teacher and a stimulating environment which can be provided. Education is not only a means of discovery, but also a means of a democratic society. Democracy can only flourish if citizens can understand what their decisions mean and have the ability to stop government corruption. Students learn in different ways because each student is an individual. Learning should not be done by rote, but by students' own actions. It is often necessary to give students a motivation to learn, if they do not already have one. The ideal teacher who fosters this type of learning should be a guide on the path to students' potential, both by nurturing them and knowing how to bring out the best in their students..