What is the purpose of education?

I think that one way to resist the lunacy surrounding NCLB and high stakes testing is for us to consider:

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATION?

I remember my father telling me that learning and being educated are things that no one can take away from a person. He also told me that learning should be a lifelong pursuit in order to better myself and the process better humanity.

This corporate model re: education via NCLB and high stakes testing benefits the rich corporations, not democracy. I don't think those NCLBers and high stakes lovers objective is to control the citizens of this country, and in the process get rich off the back of our young. Thus, their need to control teachers.

We need to be "in the face" of the NCLBers and high stakes testing folks and point out to them that being 21st century work force ready is an oxymoron. Geez, even those graduating from high school this year have experienced things no one could even imagine. Thus, the need to educate for human greatness, which high stakes tests  can't even begin to measure.

Question: One person said that the question re: high stakes test should be two questions. What might those two questions be?