A: Whether viewed from history or reality, education has become a necessary activity of human society mainly because it has two basic functions.
(a) Education has the function of influencing social development.
The continuation and development of human society depends on two basic kinds of production, one is social material production and the other is human reproduction, both of which are inseparable from education. Generally speaking, the promotion of education to social development is mainly manifested in the following aspects: (1). It is an indispensable tool for the continuation and development of mankind, a bridge between the past, present and future of human society, and plays the role of "expanding reproduction" of the whole society. (2) The social function of education is also reflected in the horizontal connection between all aspects of society and other countries in the world. (3) In a class society, education is conducive to consolidating and strengthening the position of the ruling class.
(b) It has the function of influencing personal development.
Education may affect all aspects of human development. From the overall perspective of human development, the influence of education is positive and has a promoting effect. From every stage or individual of human development, the influence of education is both positive and negative. Education has utilitarian value to social individuals. Under certain social conditions, people can change their occupation, social status, political status and economic status through education. The two functions of education are intrinsically related and play a role in activities at the same time. The social function of education is realized through the cultivation of people, and the cultivation of people must consider the needs and possibilities of society. Education that can coordinate these two functions in a positive direction is the best education. Whether this can be achieved is closely related to the level of social development and also depends on the rationality of the overall structure of the education system.