Both Mary Wollstonecraft and W.E.B DuBois argued about the importance of education in their writings. On the surface, their writings may appear dramatically different, written more than a hundred years apart and targeted towards a different audience. However, their fundamental ideas are very similar. They are a voice, potentially one of the only voices, for minority groups, be it women or African Americans. They both use reason to argue for equality. Most importantly, they both look to education as a vital piece of the struggle for equality. However, the ideas presented about the purpose of education in both writings differ from common beliefs and experiences about education in modern times. Mary Wollstonecraft argued for the education of
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One of the most glaring differences is the availability of education. When DuBois was writing, many people, especially African Americans, fought for their education. It was not a given that nearly every person graduated from high school, yet alone college. Yet there was a desire to be educated. People went through great hardships to get their education. In current times, nearly every person (in the United States) is educated. Yet many feel as if they are forced through the system. As a result, they physically go to school and sit in a chair although it can be debated if they are actually getting an education or not. The question that remains, then, is what is the purpose of education? If the purpose is to develop people and communities, then much of what DuBois wrote is still true. However, why did we as a nation move away from that ideal and how can we return? If the purpose of education is to teach book knowledge, and character and community should be taught elsewhere, why has there become such a reluctance towards education in the United States? Perhaps DuBois and Wollstonecraft knew best and we should have listened to them in all regards, not just their push for education for all but also their ideas on the purpose of education in
One of the most glaring differences is the availability of education. When DuBois was writing, many people, especially African Americans, fought for their education. It was not a given that nearly every person graduated from high school, yet alone college. Yet there was a desire to be educated. People went through great hardships to get their education. In current times, nearly every person (in the United States) is educated. Yet many feel as if they are forced through the system. As a result, they physically go to school and sit in a chair although it can be debated if they are actually getting an education or not. The question that remains, then, is what is the purpose of education? If the purpose is to develop people and communities, then much of what DuBois wrote is still true. However, why did we as a nation move away from that ideal and how can we return? If the purpose of education is to teach book knowledge, and character and community should be taught elsewhere, why has there become such a reluctance towards education in the United States? Perhaps DuBois and Wollstonecraft knew best and we should have listened to them in all regards, not just their push for education for all but also their ideas on the purpose of education in