A fun fact I used to tell my students when I was a teacher was a definition of the word, “curriculum”, which was a racecourse for the Greeks a long time ago. Like a race or field track, a school’s curriculum serves largely the same function. The teacher has a course which each class must run filled with potential pitfalls of exams and requirements along the way, designed to test whether the student has learned the curriculum well enough to pass the course or not.

The Education Song calls to mind the great number of benefits that education brings to so many, which is a key reason why this ancient and revered institution is so well-respected around the world and viewed as the greatest steppingstone to success. Infinite manifestations of this academic tradition provide a means for students to explore new interests and opportunities, expand independence, learn effective communication and networking skills, access better paying jobs and benefits, enjoy greater job security and satisfaction, gain financial stability, and help their community.

The song brings listeners back to their own campus or place of learning where they can proudly recall their own educational experience, whether formal or informal, long or short. Their current knowledge base is inextricably linked to that place where they first became interested in and went on to develop and hone their skills in their eventual subject or job.

MS. NEILSEN
WHAT ORCHESTRATES CREATION
SPARKS THE MIND’S IMAGINATION
CREATES PATHS FOR TRANSFORMATION
BY DEGREE?

MR. JOHNSON
WHAT STIMULATES ONE’S KNOWLEDGE
BLAZES TRAILS PERHAPS TO COLLEGE
ITS TRUTHS IF STUDIED WELL
WILL MAKE YOU FREE?

MR. DANIELS
IT IS THAT GRAND VOCATION
WHERE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION
MAY WIN YOU ACCOLATION
BY AND BY

MR. DUGAN
IT’S A LIFE OF INSPIRATION
CONTEMPLATION, RUMINATION
THAT MAY LEAD TO GRADUATION
IF YOU TRY

MS. SIMON
WHAT IS THIS REVELATION
WHICH DEMANDS NO DECLARATION
BUT IS CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION?
EDUCATION!

ALL
OH, EDUCATION, EDUCATION
YES, EDUCATION IS THE BACKBONE OF THE NATION
IT WILL FREE YOUR SOUL AND BRING YOU LIBERATION
EDUCATION, YES, EDUCATION, EDUCATION

Note: Education was written long after In America’s first songs were originally recorded when it was decided that the show needed a bigger opening number that would introduce all the characters at once. It replaced the original opening number, The Interview Song, and led to the writing of a new opening scene.