The philosophy of schooling and the pedagogy of schooling over the past two to three centuries has been in a state of constant flux. As we enter the 21st century, the age old debate between religious education pundits and those who advocate humanistic education rages on. The debate, then, centers around those who will or should have the right to train the masses, and how the necessary funds to train them will be provided. Given that the power elite does not want the masses to engage freely in critical or creative thought, they must decide to what degree or level training should take place. This paper will discuss what education is and what it can be.