Ursule YatesEng. 121, Sec. 414/28/2000Fredrick Douglass and EducationFrederick Douglass was, and still is, a golden example of why education is so important to a human being’s life. Douglass spent the first part of his life in ignorance. However, his life of a seemingly endless servitude and ignorance was completely shattered by the fact that he learned to read. Once he learned to read, his life was forever changed. Douglass escaped slavery and tyranny and for this became an icon even to this day. His story more than adequately demonstrates that a quality education is perhaps the most important thing a person can receive in their life. Without his education, he would not have realized the shame and inadequacy of his slavery. The unfortunate acceptance of his slavery held him in. At least he would have had the chance to choose his fate whereas in slavery, he was but a machine to be disposed of at the master’s will.1 Frieberg 2In the present, however, it is so overly obvious that our education system is quickly becoming inadequate (if it is not already). Obviously, we cannot let it slip deeper and deeper into the abyss, but what can we do to fix it? Should we throw more money at it? Should we create more watchdog groups, or set up more committees to hash out what we should do? It is my contention that none of those things we continue to do are going to work. I do not believe there is anything we can do, on a governmental basis, to fix the problem or stave off the descent. Changing the system from within is not going to work. The key is to change it from without (Sarason 4). Of course, it is easy to talk about social change as a means to education reform, but talk is always more desirable than action. It is a given that broad strokes of social reform take years and years. To be honest we do not have that time. We need to make these changes now. The problems with education are, quite obviously, numerous, and it i...
