The Importance Of Education In A Tree Grows In Brooklyn

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In the novel, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Betty Smith writes about a girl, Francie Nolan and her family. Smith writes about the circumstances in which Francie’s family is in and how they struggle every day, in many ways. Even though the Nolan family is constantly fighting the struggles, there is only one answer to their problems and it is education. Francie is encouraged by many people to keep learning because education is the key to helping her grow and to obtain more knowledge to help her survive in this world. One of the first people who encourages education on Francie was her grandma, Mary Rommely. Although she did not say it to Francie, directly, she did tell her mom, Katie when she was pregnant. Katie was scared and did not know how she …show more content…
Mother, I am just eighteen. I am strong. I will work hard, Mother. But I do not want this child to grow up just to work hard. What must I do, Mother what must I do to make a different world for her?”… “The secret lies in the reading and writing” … “Then she must read every day, I know this is the secret.” (Smith 83)
Mary advices her daughter to read her children two books which are, The Protestant Bible and Shakespeare. When Mary first landed in America she did not put her eldest daughter in school because she was not aware of public school, and her daughters never reached a high education. She does not want the same for her granddaughter, that is why she advices her daughter to enforce education to her children. When Mary talks to Francie about education she says, “‘It will raise you up to the face of the earth’” (Smith 383). Mary is the first who made sure Francie will be
…show more content…
One day he was talking to her and said to her, “‘My folks never knew how to read or write. I only got to the sixth grade myself-had to leave school when the old man died. You kids are lucky. I’m going to see that you get through high school’” (Smith 34). He wants to let Francie know he never had the chance to finish school, but he is going to make sure she does. Just like Katie and Mary, Johnny has the same ideas about education, Smith says:
He wanted to teach his children all that he knew so that at fourteen or fifteen, they would know as much as he knew at thirty. He figured they could go on from there picking up their own knowledge and, according to his calculations, when they reached thirty, they would be twice as smart as he had been at thirty. (Smith 191)
After Johnny dies, Francie graduates grammar school. Francie goes with Sissy, her aunt, to her graduation, wishing papa would have been there with her on her special day. Francie finds roses which say, “For Francie on graduation day. Love from Papa” (Smith 351). She asks Sissy how is it possible and she tells Francie, “Francie, about a year ago he gave me that card all written out and two dollars. He said, ‘When Francie graduates, sent her some flowers for me-in case I forget’” (Smith 351). Johnny knew Francie would do it and graduate, he knows how smart his daughter is and that is why he had told Sissy to

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