--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The purpose of schools should not be to…" description: "\"The purpose of schools should not be to prepare students for more school. We should be seeking to have fully engaged students now\" — Donalyn Miller" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2de/donalyn-miller-12990_children_the-purpose-of-schools-should-not-be-to_342393.jpg" --- # The purpose of schools should not be to prepare students… ![“The purpose of schools should not be to prepare students for more school. We should be seeking to have fully engaged students now” quote by Donalyn Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2de/donalyn-miller-12990_children_the-purpose-of-schools-should-not-be-to_342393.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2de/donalyn-miller-12990_children_the-purpose-of-schools-should-not-be-to_342393.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2de/donalyn-miller-12990_children_the-purpose-of-schools-should-not-be-to_342393.jpg) > “The purpose of schools should not be to prepare students for more school. We should be seeking to have fully engaged students now” [Donalyn Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donalyn-miller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Schools should focus on engaging students now rather than merely preparing them for future schooling. **In simple terms:** Engage students today, not just prep them for tomorrow. Key Takeaway Prioritize present learning experiences. Themes education engagement learning future planning Mood inspirational practical Type educational philosophy teaching strategy When to use this quote - classroom practice - lesson planning - teacher training - policy making Key Concepts student autonomy curriculum design Questions to Reflect On - How can schools balance immediate engagement with future readiness? - What methods keep students actively involved? A Different Perspective May underestimate the need for foundational skills. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [School-reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-reform/) [Schools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schools/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) ## Related quotes > [“The stated purpose of schools is to educate the kids. But there is no external pressure to do this well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/the-stated-purpose-of-schools-is-to-educate-the-kids-but-there-is-no/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“Without a purpose, schools are houses of detention, not attention”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/without-a-purpose-schools-are-houses-of-detention-not-attention/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Catholic schools prepare every student to meet the challenges of their future by developing their mind, yes, but also their body and their soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-vitter/catholic-schools-prepare-every-student-to-meet-the-challenges-of/) [David Vitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-vitter/) > [Americans want students to get the best education possible. We want schools to prepare children to become good citizens and members of a prosperous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/americans-want-students-to-get-the-best-education-possible-we-want/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [The factory model of education is the wrong model for the 21st century. Today, our schools must prepare all students for college and careers-and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-duncan/the-factory-model-of-education-is-the-wrong-model-for-the-21st/) [Arne Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-duncan/) > [For many students, school is an obligation, not a joy and a privilege. This means you need to ‘sell’ the learning to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-jensen/for-many-students-school-is-an-obligation-not-a-joy-and-a-privilege/) [Eric Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-jensen/) > [What is the matter with universities is that the students are school children, whereas it is of the very essence of university education that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/what-is-the-matter-with-universities-is-that-the-students-are-school/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“You can be one of the smartest students in this school if you actually listened to what was being said and stopped focussing so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-berketa/you-can-be-one-of-the-smartest-students-in-this-school-if-you/) Travis Berketa > [For some students, school is the only place where they get a hot meal and a warm hug. 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So what happens to students in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/i-think-there-s-too-much-emphasis-placed-on-learning-things-by-rote/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [Students in school cheat not to get the 'A,' but to avoid the 'C.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/students-in-school-cheat-not-to-get-the-a-but-to-avoid-the-c/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [“Research experts want to know what can be done about the values of poor segregated children; and this is a question that needs asking.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/research-experts-want-to-know-what-can-be-done-about-the-values-of/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [“We stigmatize mistakes. 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If we make them wait for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donalyn-miller/students-will-read-if-we-give-them-the-books-the-time-and-the/) [Donalyn Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donalyn-miller/) > [If you don't read, I don't know how to communicate with you...I can never express who I am in my own words as powerfully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donalyn-miller/if-you-don-t-read-i-don-t-know-how-to-communicate-with-you-i-can/) [Donalyn Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donalyn-miller/) > [“my job as a teacher to equip the travelers, teach them how to read a map, and show them what to do when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donalyn-miller/my-job-as-a-teacher-to-equip-the-travelers-teach-them-how-to-read-a/) [Donalyn Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donalyn-miller/) > [“Reading has become schoolwork, not an activity in which students willingly engage outside of school.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donalyn-miller/reading-has-become-schoolwork-not-an-activity-in-which-students/) [Donalyn Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donalyn-miller/) > [By believing that only some of our students will ever develop a love of books and reading, we ignore those who do not fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donalyn-miller/by-believing-that-only-some-of-our-students-will-ever-develop-a-love/) [Donalyn Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donalyn-miller/) > [“I don't believe some teachers consider whether their classroom instruction fosters the development of reading habits in their students. 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I choose purses based on whether I can cram a paperback into them, and my books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donalyn-miller/i-am-a-reader-a-flashlight-under-the-covers-carries-a-book-everywhere/) [Donalyn Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donalyn-miller/) > [“Books are love letters (or apologies) passed between us, adding a layer of conversation beyond our spoken words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donalyn-miller/books-are-love-letters-or-apologies-passed-between-us-adding-a-layer/) [Donalyn Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donalyn-miller/) > [Students need to make their own choices about reading material and writing topics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donalyn-miller/students-need-to-make-their-own-choices-about-reading-material-and/) [Donalyn Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donalyn-miller/) > [“I believe that this corporate machinery of scripted programs, comprehension worksheets (reproducibles, handouts, printables, whatever you want to call them), computer-based incentive packages, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donalyn-miller/i-believe-that-this-corporate-machinery-of-scripted-programs/) [Donalyn Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donalyn-miller/) > [Failing to graduate a populace that values reading has long-term consequences for everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donalyn-miller/failing-to-graduate-a-populace-that-values-reading-has-long-term/) [Donalyn Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donalyn-miller/) > [“Girl in Blue, by Ann Rinaldi,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donalyn-miller/girl-in-blue-by-ann-rinaldi/) [Donalyn Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donalyn-miller/) [Explore all 52 Donalyn Miller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donalyn-miller/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. 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