What does it mean to be educated?

To be educated means that one is a well rounded person. History, english, science, math, art, music and life lessons have been taught and understood. The government should provide broad outlines for schools and districts, but leave the teaching to the teachers. They know what is best for their students. The teachers know their childrens limitations and expectations. Lessons should be tailored for each individual class. The teachers can't teach because they are worried about providing students with facts to memorize so that they can pass placement tests. The "No Child Left Behind Act" leaves no children. They are viewed as bodies that must consume the information that they are told to learn by the government. If children are left to explore subjects for longer periods of time, the information would stick better. It's difficult to comprehend the lessons being thrown at you when you are constantly being introduced with new ones. I believe that all students should be required to learn eight main subjects. History is crucial because in order to predict the future, one must study what happened before. It is also important to understand ones culture and to respect others. Foreign languages should be taught at the earliest possible age. After a certain point, it is almost impossible to learn and use fluently. Knowing how to speak multiple languages is a helpful and valued trait. English is the most basic subject and is needed to build the others. Sciences and math are two of the most important concepts that students need to grasp. They may be considered some of the hardest, but in order to be successful people, one must succeed in these subjects. Art and music should not be optional like they are in many schools. They should be required because they allow students to explore different cultures and the other side of their brain.