As simplistic as this view may be, it is generally a correct assumption. However, education has many facets that extend further than the teacher-student relationship.
Education has other concerns that affect the roles society expects it to fulfill.
Some of these roles are the aim of public schools in a democracy, what kinds of curricula to implement, what skills and knowledge promote democratic behavior, and how learning occurs. These issues affect every teacher and student in the United States today. Upon closer examination, education is not a simplistic institution. The aims of public schools in a democracy are not to be the sole providers of education, but partners in education. This institution consists of the local school board, school administration, local, state, and federal governments, teachers, principals, parents, and most important, students.