Learning To Read Frederick Douglass Summary

Throughout human history, education has been, by far, one of the most important pillars of human life. With education, people gain knowledge, awareness, and skills, in which they become capable of success and achieving their ambitions. In addition, technology has played an essential role in enhancing and developing the educational process. Frederick Douglass, in his essay “Learning to Read”, describes his extraordinary tale from an uneducated slave to a prominent writer of his time. A critical point to note is that during his time period, the most advanced form of educational technology was the pen and paper. As such, the entirety of Douglass’s future rested on his ability to master this technology. With this in mind, the power of technology …show more content…
The Army has now become entirely centered on technology; military operations, transportation, and communication all revolve around the use of technology, making it a necessity to possess a deep, solid background in it. To prepare cadets for a professional career as an officer, incorporating the use of technology into the West Point’s education system is indispensable because of the relevance and importance that technology has in the Army. For Douglass, his determination to escape from his life as a slave fueled his desire to master his ability to read and write (406). Likewise for cadets, the passionate desire to become an officer can serve as a powerful motivation to study and work towards mastering technology. It is incredibly important for officers to be educated and up-to-date with technology because it is they who are responsible for the defense of the United States and its people. The Dean and Academic Board have the grand responsibility of preparing the nation its finest, educated warriors through the Academy. As such, it is vital that the Dean and Academic Board takes into account the magnitude that technology plays not only in the life of a cadet, but more importantly in the life of an …show more content…
Not every cadet may be willing to devote their lives to our Nation’s military, but rather they may desire to strive for excellence in the civilian world using the knowledge from their military education. It may seem as though these people are selfish and are not readily willing to sacrifice their time and effort in defending the Nation; however, it is important to note that the civilian world is just as important in maintaining the economic stability of the country. Cadets educated with the in-depth knowledge of modern technology have the capacity to excel and gain prominent footholds in society. In the case of Douglass, his perseverance and determination enabled him to finally be able to write, which allowed him to create his own autobiography, “Learning to Read” (408). Ideally, cadets as well should pursue a goal they wish to achieve in life, regardless of whether it is related to the military or the civilian world. And in most cases, most goals require the extensive use and understanding of technology to achieve. As such, the Dean and Academic Board should consider the importance and availability of technology to not only their own mission and goals, but also to the interests of the cadets as perhaps this may be very well the driving factor to encourage cadets to master technology through their own