In the novel Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, a large variety of the characters depended merely on education by life experiences rather then typical book learning. At this time, culture allowed for people to not be formally educated. However, in present day society, education is heavily relied upon in order to succeed.
Today’s society calls for children to begin their formal education around the age of five and finally graduate schooling at eighteen. The government administers education through the public school system; each state is required to provide a school system in which all children may receive an education. The Equal Education Opportunities Act of 1974 provides that no state shall deny equal educational opportunity to an individual on the basis of race, color, sex, or national origin (“Education”). In addition to public schools, parents have the opportunity to enroll their child in private school or provide home schooling.
Following graduation at the age of eighteen, many graduates continue to go onto further schooling at a college or university. Without a college degree, there are a limited amount of careers one can enter. Many jobs require some sort of post high school education or degree. The most recent available statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor show the unemployment rate for high school graduates with no college experience was 14 percent. The unemployment rate in 2003 for young people with college degrees, in contrast, was 7 percent (Dobbs).In addition, with a college degree, you have a greater chance of being financially well off. “Workers 18 and over sporting bachelors degrees earn an average of $51,206 a year, while those with a high school diploma earn $27,915. Workers with an advanced degree make an average of $74,602, and those without a high school diploma average $18,734 (Longley).”
In conclusion, the world we live in requires for one to be well educated. This is apparent in the career opportunities and salaries offered to those with high levels of education, distinct to our culture. Formal education in present day society is quite different from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, where most of the characters were able to get by on education by life experiences.
Sources Cited:
-Dobbs, Lou. "Life Without College." CNN. Feb. 2005. CNN. 10 Aug. 2007 http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/02/15/life.without.college/.
-"Education." Cornell University of Law. Cornell University. 10 Aug. 2007 http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/index.php/Education.
-Longley, Robert. "College Degree Nearly Doubles Annual Earnings." 2004. 10 Aug. 2007 http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/censusandstatistics/a/collegepays.htm.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Education- Huckleberry Finn
In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, there is an underlying debate between typical book learning and life experiences as related to ones education. The character Huckleberry Finn was put in school by the orthodox widow who took him in and believed in proper education. After only a short time and learning merely a few things (including to read and write), Huckleberry ran away, abandoning life with the widow as well as school. From that point on the young boy relied mainly on his ‘street smarts’ as he journeyed his way to freedom.
For Huckleberry, while he was escaping civilization on the raft, he relied on what he learned in past experiences as the basis of his decisions. He was able to contradict what he knew from society and do what he wanted without restriction; this is apparent in his relationship with Jim, Huckleberry was able to overcome the racist perspective he knew from Southern culture and treat his friend as an equal. Although his ability to read enhanced his voyage, for instance when he read to Jim about kings in the book they raided from the ship in chapter 14, he relied on his formal education none while developing his own personal morals and conscience. No thanks to book learning, Huckleberry created his own way of learning and reading the world around him based upon his own life experiences.
In addition, the character Tom Sawyer also was a liberal spirit and relied none on formal education. However, this character lacked the natural intelligence and common sense distinct to Huckleberry. Tom idiotically called hogs “ingots” and turnips “julery” as well as illogically developing foolish schemes and plans which would only lead to trouble. It is obvious that Huckleberry is a clearer and more rational thinker, possibly benefited by his short time of formal education which Tom never experienced.
In conclusion, the characters of this book relied mainly on education by life experiences rather than typical book learning. For a character like Huckleberry who was able to rationally make decisions and develop a sensible moral conscience without formal education, he was able to get by. Tom Sawyer however, who also relied none on formal education, didn’t have the sensibility of Huckleberry and made seriously irrational and crazy decisions. I feel that the author Mark Twain felt that at this time period it was acceptable to live based on life experiences but having a typical book education and schooling improved ones morals and judgment.
Sources Cited:
Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. New York: Bantam, 1981.
For Huckleberry, while he was escaping civilization on the raft, he relied on what he learned in past experiences as the basis of his decisions. He was able to contradict what he knew from society and do what he wanted without restriction; this is apparent in his relationship with Jim, Huckleberry was able to overcome the racist perspective he knew from Southern culture and treat his friend as an equal. Although his ability to read enhanced his voyage, for instance when he read to Jim about kings in the book they raided from the ship in chapter 14, he relied on his formal education none while developing his own personal morals and conscience. No thanks to book learning, Huckleberry created his own way of learning and reading the world around him based upon his own life experiences.
In addition, the character Tom Sawyer also was a liberal spirit and relied none on formal education. However, this character lacked the natural intelligence and common sense distinct to Huckleberry. Tom idiotically called hogs “ingots” and turnips “julery” as well as illogically developing foolish schemes and plans which would only lead to trouble. It is obvious that Huckleberry is a clearer and more rational thinker, possibly benefited by his short time of formal education which Tom never experienced.
In conclusion, the characters of this book relied mainly on education by life experiences rather than typical book learning. For a character like Huckleberry who was able to rationally make decisions and develop a sensible moral conscience without formal education, he was able to get by. Tom Sawyer however, who also relied none on formal education, didn’t have the sensibility of Huckleberry and made seriously irrational and crazy decisions. I feel that the author Mark Twain felt that at this time period it was acceptable to live based on life experiences but having a typical book education and schooling improved ones morals and judgment.
Sources Cited:
Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. New York: Bantam, 1981.
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