By various agencies, unintentional and designed, a society transforms uninitiated and seemingly alien beings into robust trustees of its own resources and ideals.
Education is thus a fostering, a nurturing, a cultivating, process.
Throughout history, different civilizations have addressed the question as to why people need to be educated and to what ends and purposes. In all societies, there are certain people who hold various positions, play certain roles , or are given legitimized authority. In most instances, the all these different religious, social and political roles mean that people have to be educated, or otherwise prepared. In almost all societies, whether individuals aspire to become shamans, teachers, doctors, religious leaders, artists, or soldiers, they all have to undergo specialized programs of education beyond the elementary educational programs of childhood preparatory to the actual acquisition of their future professions. Historically, aspirants could study under master teachers, participate in concentrated programs as apprentices, or pursue higher education at recognized institutions.