Educational quotes and their significance

¶ … education and how that quote has affected me and my views on the subject. The following quote will be used for this analysis:

"Whatever an education is, it should make you a unique individual, not a conformist; it should furnish you with an original spirit with which to tackle the big challenges; it should allow you to find values which will be your road map through life; it should make you spiritually rich, a person who loves whatever you are doing, wherever you are, whomever you are with; it should teach you what is important, how to live and how to die." - John Taylor Gatto, New York Sate Teacher of the Year, 1991.

These very inspiring words come from a great public school teacher who had lost hope in the public education system due to the oppressive and controlling nature that overtook his classroom. I recognize and understand the essence of this quote as something that transcends institutions and rules. Education comes from a desire within and cannot come from any other place no matter how much we try.

The individual is often lost when it comes to formal schooling and education much to the detriment of society. Too many rules and regulations have overwhelmed both faculty and student alike. Much of the time spent in school focuses on following arbitrary rules and not theories of importance.

This understanding places much pressure on the teacher. Directives often come from higher, demanding certain test scores be met and curriculum be tailored to more collective ideas. As a result, the very thing that empowers students is ignored. We are individuals with individual gifts and talents all worthwhile and important in way or another. Too often this quality is snuffed out of students and teachers by browbeating and disciplining actions. Although some of this is necessary, it has definitely reached a tipping point.