"'Educational' refers to the process, not the object. Although, come to think of it, some of my teachers could easily have been replaced by a cheeseburger"

This quote by Terry Pratchett is both humorous and insightful, communicating a deeper review of education systems while keeping a light-hearted tone. Pratchett differentiates in between "educational", which describes the dynamic process of learning and teaching, and the "things", which may be the material or perhaps the educators themselves. He recommends that the essence of education depends on the engagement and interaction within the knowing process, instead of just the transmission of fixed info or the simple presence of teachers.

Pratchett's quip about replacing some teachers with a cheeseburger humorously mentions that the role of a teacher is not just to exist or provide information however to help with an interesting and efficient learning environment. In doing so, he highlights a typical criticism of conventional education systems: the tendency of some teachers and institutions to focus on rote learning and memorization at the expenditure of crucial thinking and motivation. The concept is that if a teacher's existence is not adding substantial value to the knowing experience, they may also be changed by something as immaterial to the educational process as a cheeseburger, a sign of simplicity and lack of nutritional worth in an instructional sense.

Furthermore, this quote welcomes reflection on the qualities of effective teaching. Excellent educators adjust to the learning styles and requirements of their trainees, sparking curiosity and motivating expedition. The best educational experiences tend to be those that motivate trainees, provoke thought, and develop abilities for independent inquiry, none of which might be accomplished by something inert or tokenistic, like a cheeseburger.

Ultimately, Pratchett's remark is a call to action for academic reform: to stress interactive, thought-provoking academic procedures that prepare students to believe seriously and creatively, beyond the simple acceptance of details.