Education and Democracy: A Timeless Connection
Since the founding of America, education has been heralded as an American Value. In Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and other states, colonists became cognizant of their collective role in educating children. Like in the ancient times, such agents created policies that both children from wealthy or poor backgrounds would be taught how to read and write for the acquisition of skills. These skills included but not limited to weaving, shipbuilding or trading was aimed at securing economic progress. And as democracy became a broad concept in America in the late 19th century, public education also became not only the ideal investment but also an imperative factor for a society exponentially growing like America at that time. This essay will concur with the premise that education has a foothold in democracy. Herein, innovations, human rights, the American dream, fair politics comprise the priceless values that come with education as a societal need for progress.
The Role of Education in a Fair and Effective Political System
Education promotes fair and effective political system for a democratic society. With education, the common man is invariably able to choose leaders wisely with the prospects of countering tyrannical instincts of influential leaders (Pataridzea, Tinatin and Tinatin 770). An educated society is conscious of its needs and where it needs to add more effort for progress. For instance, it takes a geographically savvy politician to explain to the people the devastating effect that awaits them if global warming is not tended. While opponents might be quick to point out to the fact that enlightened individuals often, for most of the part take advantage of their uneducated counterparts, the benefits a society receives from its educated members is far more beneficial in number and effect than what these enlightened men would otherwise do for their interests.
Education and the Understanding of Human Rights in a Democratic Society
Educated members understand their human rights and strive to maintain and protect them so that their political agencies do not usurp authority and turn into despotism. A democratic society will only ensue when members are fully aware of their privileges and rights without the fear that a person of higher authority might override their way of life. For a government to listen to its people democratically and enforce laws into place that will protect the state, the people have to be aware of their roles as stakeholders in the lawmaking process. Enlightened citizens will be savvy to point out the loopholes and the advantages of the adopted policy and fight for what they believe to be the right course of action. For example, before medical laws pertaining to licensing a drug are implemented, a group of verified scientists has to prove the authenticity and validity of the law through a series of tests and debates. Such clinical tests require educated people to take charge of finding the truth. When members understand that it is their right to refute new drugs that are likely to affect their health and yet no such caveats are illustrated by the government, they can fight for their right for a just society.
Education, Democracy, and the American Dream
With an educated society, individuals have the right to determine their future and are no longer limited by birth or situations in their potential. Anti-education reformers view enlightenment as a chaotic practice which disrupts the hierarchical order of the society. However, education has given rise to the American dream which posited that every child, regardless of parents, ethnicity, or background should receive education for a better life. It is only in a democratic society that a person can choose to become whom he or she yearns. It is because of democratic voices, founded on educational enlightenment that groups such as LGBTQ which voices the need for a person to become who they want to is voiced.
Education and Freedom to Choose Leaders in a Democratic Society
A democratic society allows its members to choose its leaders freely and fairly and the ruling number is often positioned as the winner. In the older days as America was becoming more and more democratic, the right to vote was revised to allow marginalized groups to become part of the political spheres. For example, it is up to the 19th century that African Americans and women were allowed to take part of the voting process as education becomes the fundamental means upon which people can secure their liberty and equality (Swartz 300). Opponents who view education as a valueless tool used by its promulgators to initiate conflict might argue that even in countries with no democracy and leaders are often active members of the dictatorship most are arguably learned. However, it takes time for a proportionate number of the society to be learned enough to recognize the folly in politics played by their educated counterparts. The more the people are educated in numbers, the less likely their leaders are likely to infringe them of their rights. Having the right to freely choose who will lead or a society is a value that only an enlightened society understands.
Education and Embracing Change and Innovation
Education embraces change and innovation cordially with the population. If change is accepted with little opposition from members and does not result in violence, democracy has played its part. It is evident that with the burgeoning use of technology today, it is essential for society to be literate enough to counter the negative effects of these changes. Scientists knowledgeable enough have studied how man’s activities have led to global warming, and with this knowledge, they have been able to find ways of mitigating this climatic crisis. At the same time, it is also worth noting that it is through educated individuals that environmental pollution today remains a peril to the existence of man and other animals. However, with educated people, an agreement pertaining to environmental protection can be reached for the greater good. Education then is important in ensuring democracy follows through in policies regarding the environment. Had it not been for education, America would not have realized it needs and the success of each individual. Education has created opportunities for mankind that would have otherwise not been discovered.
The Role of Education in a Society Ready for Change
An enlightened society means a society ready for a change. A society with a majority of its population savvy about their human rights promotes fairness and equality when it comes to education, development, healthcare and social welfare services. It takes an educated individual to fight for their rights. Also, educated societies will choose their leaders wisely which may ultimately curtail marginalization and tyrannical rulings. The value that education brings forth to its members is one that cannot be downplayed. Humans require change, and this change can only become so visible through curiosity and the subsequent knowledge acquisition. And as stated by Benjamin Franklin, excellent education of the youth remains to be the surest foundation that brings happiness to both families and the common wealth.
Works Cited
Pataridzea, Salome, Tinatin Sakhelashvilib, and Tinatin Sabaurib. "Education and Democracy." Sociology 5.10 (2015): 764-767.
Swartz, Ronald. "Education for Democracy." Encouraging Openness. Springer, Cham, 2017. 301-304.
