Armed With Education Quotes

These two pieces, although similar in the way they explain and see language as oppressive, are from completely different times. Learning to Read was written in 1845, with the author giving a first-hand account of how he acquired his education and how he views language as a part of life. Conversely, Noble Lecture was written in 1993. The author is a graduate from Cornell University, writing about her research about language, including her piece about oppressive language. Although both authors come from very different backgrounds and time periods, the views that they share about language can be seen as continuous, considering the similar views with totally different time periods.

In “The Other Education” written by, author, David Brook he describes a secondary form of education. He describes the secondary/emotional form of education as an education that is served indirectly as compared to a scholastic education which is direct. In scholastic education a teacher provides students with information directly, explains how one should process it and the class moves on to the next subject. Brook states that a secondary education is a “byproduct of the search of pleasure, and the learning is indirect and unconscious”. (Brooks 2011) Meaning that the learning that takes place outside of the normal educational setting is

Aristotle said, “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” What does it really mean to be educated? Many people thought that they knew what education meant, even I felt confident in myself to define education. However, the ideas discussed in class really made me question my definition of education. My definition has changed within the past few weeks as I discovered more about education. I am here to present my definition of education; with the lack of resources, one can still become educated by learning the unknown and putting your knowledge to good use.

I was born and raised in a small distant Himalayan country in a refugee camp. Expectations were really high. My moderately educated parents, who had been living without hope for almost two decades, thought that education was our only hope. So, every day was a new challenge for me to do well and learn something new. I was always emphasized of the significance of education in every walk of my life. It was the part of the dinner table talk. I had learned nothing but how education was important. I was determined and did well in my studies. However, the discourses that I had learned at home and my community differed to a great extent when we moved to the United States. I had developed a different identity kit, that separated me from the rest of the students who thought the completely other way around. I was always taught that education was the only and most important thing but as I looked at my high school classmates, it was just a part; while it still remained as the only important thing as my parents had emphasized onto me. Also, I found it quite challenging to think and respond similar and acquire the same discourse. The most challenging part was to learn, interpret and speak in English. Accordingly, as Williams mentioned I could clearly see the conflict between the academic discourse that was being taught in the classroom and

Furthermore, it is also been questioned that how can educated men criticize and undervalue those who have been a victim of poverty or harsh upbringing which has affected their education when it is truly not their fault. Furthermore critics have argued on how it can be determined that kings and philosophers are not ruling in their self interest and in which way their power should be tested.

It is unsettling to imagine what my life would be like if my father was not fortunate enough to receive the education and guidance that he had. Maybe my parents would not have left the crime-ridden streets of Johannesburg to seek safer lives. I probably would have followed in my grandfather’s footsteps and worked in the grim conditions of a South African gold mine. Perhaps I would become a discouraged alcoholic like my uncle, working as an underpaid, over-scheduled steel mill welder. It is not possible to know, but in most likelihood, I would not be in the fortunate position I am now. Education is a necessity to attain a prosperous life. A strong educational foundation must concentrate on the skills of reading and writing. Often a quality education is not accessible to lower socioeconomic class citizens, which results in those people remaining stagnant in their current class. In Sherman Alexie’s essay, “The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me”, it is clear that individuals of lower class designations must seek alternate methods to become literate to compensate for the limited opportunities they have due to stereotypes that obstruct access to effective education.

Education is something that has historically been a valuable asset to asserting one’s power and place in

There will always be those who strikes their hardest to learn even though others downgrade them. In the essay “Super Man and Me” Sherman Alexie explains what happen in his personal life while he was still at school. Alexie is an Indian boy who loves to read ever since he was a little child. “A little Indian boy teaches himself to read at an early age and advanced quickly” (497). However the non-Indians expected less from the Indians kids. They expect them to be stupid and uneducated. Nevertheless Alexie refuses to fail, he was a very smart boy who kept on teaching himself. Alex proved the non-Indians wrong by becoming a writer. This is a claim of value because, most of the time people expect less from us based on our nationality and race, but it is our obligation to prove them wrong; our future does not depend on what others think of us, but how hard we strike to have a better future. I too can relate to the essay Super Man and Me because of my teacher in Junior High also expected less from me and also treated me differently base on my nationality.

Education is meant to broaden the minds of incoming generations to the diverse cultures and aspects of the world. While its purpose is meant to open up horizons, it has also held up the task of oppressing opposing thoughts and judgments. Author James Baldwin exposes this truth in his article, “A Talk to Teachers,” as he chastises the education system’s contradicting actions inasmuch as the support of an all-encompassing education while scorning unconventional thinking. Baldwin’s purpose to confront the antithetical activity to hopefully change the system’s ways is attempted by persuading teachers who “deal with the minds and hearts of young people” that a paradox of education occurs when students develop a conscience--they become “at war” with society--is valid in that education should allow development for individual thoughts and varied opinions to challenge for the reconstruction of society’s oppressive nature.

He lays awake at night clutching his bedsheets in guilt, because of his want, and to want anything at all is blasphemy. Because of his intellect, his teachers ridicule him constantly. He tries to dumb himself down and squash down his natural curiosity to fit in, but he is lashed nevertheless. “It is not good to be different from our brothers, but it is evil to be superior to them.” (Rand 21) This quote reflects on the fact that is any man exhibits superior traits to that of their colleagues, they will experience a harsh degree of backlash. Because of the push for sameness, if one man is unintelligent, all others must be the

The authors mentioned are proof of the phobia that comes with the process of becoming educated. Rodriguez was so obsessed in remaking himself that he allowed his priority aside, his family. Undoubtedly, he became aware of this truth, nevertheless through great pain. Similarly, bell hooks did not have the financial support, resources, and opportunities, as her classmates. Nonetheless, she did not permit the stereotypes to categorize her. It is true education bestows tremendous power, but it also requires great responsibility from oneself and

As society advances and the boundary between people becomes seemingly less apparent, many individuals attempt to promote various plans based on the concept of equality. Anyhow, many so-called egalitarian plans would inevitably result in failure because their proponents blindly believe in the efficiency of equality. They neglect how people are motivated to improve and to test their limits by their instinct to compete. In her writing “Project Classroom Makeover”, Cathy Davidson proposes egalitarian plans consist of a “democratization of knowledge” (54) which depends on crowdsourcing and “working together collectively” (51). In Davidson’s perspective, problems will be solved by allowing everyone the equal opportunity to express themselves. However, Karen Ho’s research directly shows the impracticality of her plans by explicitly revealing the existence of hierarchy in her writing, “Biographies of Hegemony”. As shown by Ho’s research, no matter how alluring Davidson’s plans seem, they will not come about. Because Davidson’s idealistic plans disregard human beings’ instinct to strive and fight for what they valued. Such egalitarian plans will not be executed with hierarchy deeply rooted in our society, results precisely from human’s desire to compete with each other.

“Conflict builds character, and crisis defines it”, a quote by Steven V.Thulon, has been one of the very few quotes that have stuck with me since I was a little girl. Growing up in a home with two Guatemalan immigrants that spoke minimal english has impacted my life in a way that no one could ever possibly comprehend. At the age of six, I began displaying the signs of leadership and determination that some students just developed in high school. I managed to teach myself the english language and speak it fluently in a span of six months. Of my own accord I watched english cartoons and read books in english and never stopped until my reading level surpassed those of my classmates. This triumph is one of many that has made me realize how different

Throughout the history of civilization, education has been an important tool in shaping an individual as well as the society that the individual is a part of. In the older civilizations, only the elite upper class had access to education. This kept these people at the top of the social ladder, and suppressed the common people who did not have access to the same education as the nobles. We have come a long way since then, with every child having access to a free high school degree. However, there is still some inequality in this modern education system that has similarities to the old injustices. In this day and age, a college degree is a great start for a young adult starting to enter the work force. According to a study conducted by Pew

From my readings to research from Edutopia to literature courses, I have gained a deeper appreciation for language. In order to understand what one is speaking, a person needs to spend time listening to one’s language and before responding must reflect and analyze what the other said and how to respond. If a person wants to love another person they have to listen to their language in order to speak their language, and the core part of learning another language is by listening. According to Joan Blaska, author of The Power of Language: Speak and Write Using “Person First” the language people use shows one’s bias and prejudices.  Beliefs and another’s performance fall under the influence of language. Blaska claimed “ the degree to which children are able to perceive themselves as competent and worthy, or the opposite, is heavily influenced by the verbalizations used by their teachers...Studies have found that labeling of students does affect teacher expectations which in turn affects student progress”. People have heavy influence with their words, because of this, our language must be intentional in a way, that breaks down negative stereotypes and helps one gain empathy as well as seeing others capabilities. Communicating and reading others comments and inquiring others has helped me to accept