"Education"

S- education reformations, philosophical views

O- 1800s, published in American Scholar

A- readers of magazine, educators, parents

P-to educate, to persuade, to reform

S- Ralph Waldo Emerson

T- confident, professional, considerate, philosophical

This article provides an insight on the education children are receiving these days. Emerson explains that parents help their children when they first begin school. However, children begin to become dependent on their parents because they are not able to complete their homework by themselves. As a result, they will not be able to receive the grades they want to. This event results in additional help from parents because they do not want to see their child fail in school. “A new degree of intellectual power seems cheap at any price”(189). Emerson wants to show that people are losing their intellectual value. They are beginning to depend on other sources, such as parents or the Internet, for help. According to Emerson, people need to learn through observation. They need to be able to assess and comprehend the situation and adapt to it.

Emerson believes natural observation is the most important factor for children and students. The youth must learn from their mistakes or peers and be able to take on life by themselves. They need to know that their parents and friends will not always be around to help them. Children must find their own path in life. Parents should not always guide their children throughout every step. Although they need to teach them proper behavior, they must allow the child to learn through observation and determine their personal goal for the future. This can only be done if students receive proper education without any help from others. They need to be able to learn the basics by themselves.

This article does serve its purpose by grabbing the attention of educators and especially, parents. Emerson believes each person is “a new style of man; give him time and opportunity” (194). Emerson acknowledges the fact that each person is unique, but has begun to lose value because of their incapability to comprehend complex situations. People always try to find an easier way to handle a situation. Emerson wants this way of taking action to stop before an entire generation loses the capability to advance in their education and become “the fountain of an energy that goes pulsing on with waves of benefit to the borders of society” (195).