Education, in particular equality in education Essay

Education, in particular equality in education - Essay Example In one of his Lectures on education, Emerson declared that the whole theory of schooling and education is on the mother’s knee (1). A child learns to skate, fish, make snowballs and hit a mark with a stone. This is education, the same way learning the secrets of science, history and literature is. What is important is to respect the student and impart knowledge that catches a student’s attention and brings out the genius in him. However, education today is governed by the steam instead of meeting the needs of each individual mind. According to Freire’s Educational Theory, it is important for the teachers to recognize that the students are thinking subjects rather than objects (90). Therefore, it is not possible for information to be transferred from a teacher to the learner and simply memorized. This transference of knowledge needs to be shaped through discussions and reflections and comprehended for it to be called education. He also believed that a teacher should try Humans are members of not only the society they live in, but also the world. Every human being is linked to another and it is crucial for human beings to understand each other rather than focusing on what benefits they can derive from one another, especially in times of globalization where the world has become an interdependent global village. This understanding can be gained through Liberal Education as derived by Martha Nussbaum. Nussbaum, in her article ‘Liberal Education & Global Community’ wrote that the system of higher education in many countries focuses on a single pre-professional subject whereas, the liberal arts universities will cultivate humanity within students and allow them to deal with other humans through human understanding rather than economic and political connections (2-3). According to Armstrong, Doctor Howard Gardner proposed the

English II paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

English II paper - Essay Example The story introduces the central character, Victor who had just lost his job and broke but needed to go to Phoenix to collect the remains of his cremated father who had apparently died of a heart attack. He also wanted to collect a pick-up truck and a few hundred dollars left by his late father. He was disappointed when the tribal council could only raise a hundred dollars as cash for this trip. Here, Alexie depicts Victor as a poor, sheltered Native American living on the reservation. He seems to have lost faith in his culture and traditions. He is affected negatively by his surrounding and struggles to find his identity. As he walked off to cash his check, he bumped into his childhood friend, Thomas Build the Fire. Thomas offered to lend Victor the money he needed to go to Phoenix, Arizona. In childhood, all the native American boys in the reservation including Victor kept ignoring Thomas for years because of â€Å"the same damn stories he was always telling over and over againâ⠂¬  (Sherman, 288). Thomas’ action was a sign of true friendship having offered and given his friend Victor money without expecting anything in return. The only condition Thomas gave was to accompany Victor to Phoenix in order to â€Å"watch out† for Victor, a promise he had given Victor’s father as revealed in the text (Sherman, 292). Thomas remained loyal to the promise he gave Victor’s father since the time they were kids, he always looked after Victor. The story brings out the importance of friendship and values such as loyalty and optimism. This interesting character in Thomas presents a person who is hardly affected negatively by the hardship and struggle a contrast of Victor’s character. Thomas also represents a funny, traditional person in the manner he greets Victor at the tribal trading post and expresses condolences for Victor’s loss. When Victor asked Thomas how he learned of the passing of Victor’s father, Thomas answere d, â€Å"I heard it on the wind. I heard it from the birds. I felt it in the sunlight. Also, your mother was just here crying† (Sherman, 292). When they came back from Phoenix, Victor promised that he would pay everything back. He thanked Thomas for help, but Thomas only replied; â€Å"do not worry about the money. It does not make any difference anyhow† (Sherman, 288). Notice that Thomas holds no personal attachment to money, possessions or wealth unlike his friend Victor who is modern, proud and possessive. In conclusion, I think their friendship was rekindled because Victor felt gratitude towards Thomas and even offered some of the father’s ashes to Thomas. When they arrived in his father’s trailer in Arizona, Victor apologized to Thomas. He even added, â€Å"I never told you I was sorry for beating you up that time†, and accepts him for whom he was (Sherman, 285). In an attempt to rekindle the alliance and relinquish any grudge, Victor agreed t o listen to just one more story as the trip came to a close. With some inheritance money, the story uses everyday life and conflicts inside an Indian reservation to present a parallel between the two characters in the story. Alexis explores life including typical conflicts such as the events that Victor encountered, reflections on his experiences with Thomas in childhood and later their rare