"The expression "a liberal education" originally meant one worthy of freemen. Such is education simply in a true and broad sense. But education ordinarily so called--the learning of trades and professions which is designed to enable men to earn a living, or to fit them for a particular station in life--is servile."
Henry David Thoreau, Journal 8 Dec 1859
What is the kind of education we want for our children? Now we have two characteristics of education: It is to be (1) designed to promote human dignity and (2) be worthy of a freeman, not a servile human being. Let's see what else we can find.