This relates well to the discussion on Tuesday about how the purpose of education can be to help certain groups of people, particularly disadvantaged students. While I believe education is an important tool for empowerment and equity, I also wonder if there is truth to the idea that social differences will continue to be an issue in our society as there may be limitations to how much education can do when inequity must be addressed systematically through multiple institutions rather than just education.

This strict regulation of times and routines within the education system remains prevalent today, even in higher education where students are expected to meet for the same intervals. While this routine has practical effectiveness and prepares students for the workforce and teaches skills like accountability and time management, the strict confinement may take away from the process and enjoyment of learning, as everyone learns at their own pace and having too short or long intervals for different learners may be detrimental.

It is difficult to fathom this more individualized form of grading now that age-based grading has become so intuitive to the educational system. There are many benefits as I don’t think standards-based grading would be possible without separating students based on age, but it makes me wonder if there may be drawbacks to this as well.

This is an important distinction since it may help families who feel embarrassed about sending their children to free school feel more comfortable and maintain their family dignity and pride. The analogy to air is a good reminder of how education is not just a want but a right and a necessity for young people’s development and functioning in society.

In some ways, this divide is still seen in today’s society, as high-income families choose expensive private schools to distinguish their children’s opportunities, and the quality of education generally can be higher in privileged communities. Southerners’ fear of educating slaves also revealed how they recognized its ability to empower groups of people. It reminds me of the lecture where we discussed how education can have the power to help or aid certain groups.

I wonder what drove this transition from religious to secular education?