The citizens Plato’s ideal State is divided into three clear classes from birth. These being upper, middle, lower. For these classes, they will be educated and live separately, no one being able to raise above or drop to any other class. For the middle class they have lessons from a young age, being trained in music, gymnastics, War etc. One prevalent part of this is how students are brought into battle or taken on horse back to watch their city at war. This is meant as experience to make them greater fighters, with an understanding of the realities of war from a young age. Another important aspect to education with Plato’s State is his progressive argument that women should learn along side men in the same way. In fact, he goes as far to say that the only main difference between men and women is their genitalia. From the upper class, and all important philosophers, education also plays a central role. Plato strongly believed that a state full of people with a love for wisdom would make the state wise. Philosophers would also take up in this experiential learning, making sure to learn and hear from people in all walks of life. He also emphasised the fact that they must not be vain and pompous, due to their high ranking status, but live a modest life. Ultimately this leads to the conclusion that the role of education in Plato’s Ideal State that of the upmost central, for without it the State could not be in any way virtuous or ideal.
One important part of education to consider in the role of Plato's ideal state is that of censorship. While I am aware that one of Plato's goal with creating this state was to avoid any chance of anarchy, I don't necessarily agree with his avid censorship and restriction of information. Education sits as one of the most important parts of his state, but I believe be censoring information, one restricts knowledge in the state.
Building on this idea of censorship, there is a restriction of the lower classes to gain more knowledge. I disagree with this as it doesn't not allow people be expand past what is expected of them. (While this is not something plato wanted particularly, I believe the state will improve and be more prosperous is every citizen is able to access the same resources. -Bit of a John Rawls idea.)