Student essayists help celebrate
American Education Week

     The last full week before Thanksgiving was first designated in 1921 as American Education Week, in order to generate public awareness and support for public education.
     This year, during American Education Week – November 13-19, 2005 – the National Education Association (NEA) is issuing a nationwide call urging everyone to do their part in providing a quality public education to children so that they can grow and achieve in the 21st century. Throughout the week, NEA and its 2.7 million members are hosting events across the country designed to raise awareness about the critical need for educators, parents, students and communities to work together for great public education in America.
     The National Education Association Rhode Island (NEARI) promoted a student essay contest to commemorate the occasion. Students in grades 11-12 were asked to respond to the question, “Why do you believe that public education and the exchange of diverse ideas are important to the preservation of the rights and liberties of our democratic and free society?”
     The winners received cash prizes of $200, $100, and $75 for first, second, and third place. They are Julie Silva, Grade 12, Toll Gate High School, Warwick (first place); Amanda Chartier, Grade 12, Toll Gate High School, Warwick (second place); and Ashley Paquin, Grade 11, Cumberland High School (third place). The winning essays may be found below.
     To find out more about American Education Week, visit http://www.nea.org/aew, or contact your local public schools.

FIRST PLACE
Julie Silva
Toll Gate High School
Grade 12

The Importance of Public Education
to the Preservation of a Free Society

     “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free….it expects what never was and never will be” (Thomas Jefferson). In stating that ignorance and freedom cannot coexist, Jefferson illustrates the necessity of education for the preservation of freedom, since education is the most effective prevention against ignorance. Through cultivating the minds of the youth, educators have the power to shape the future of American society and stamp out future ignorance, intolerance, and illiteracy. In this ever-changing age of technology, ethical debates, wars, and blind animosity, children need to understand the workings of the world around them in order to make informed decisions as adults. Without the firm guidance of education to lead children in the right direction, they tend to grow up blindly, follow the same path of perversity trodden upon by their forefathers, paved with bigotry, violence, and misunderstanding. Thus, it is essential to society that education of equal quality is readily available to all children regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender, social class, or disability; indeed, such provisions make up the definition of public education, which requires American children to attend school at least until high school, and funds schools through tax collection. Public education allows one to learn from the past mistakes of people throughout history, promotes the eradication of prejudices and builds responsible character.
     In George Santayana’s timeless words, “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Indeed, if children are not informed about the past mistakes of mankind, then they are powerless to prevent the same situations from happening again. On the other hand, if people are enlightened to the missteps of their ancestors, then they can make a conscious effort to avert those precedented errors. Herein lies an essential task of education: to teach the nation’s youth about previous mistakes of mankind and thereby equip them with the knowledge to devise methods for preventing these same errors from recurring and wreaking further devastation on society. For instance, if students who learn about the causes and devastating effects of past wars grow up to be government officials, they would likely seek diplomacy over warfare whenever possible, in order to prevent needless destruction and protect human rights. Of all forms of education, public education is the most reliable medium for fulfilling this crucial objective, because the government can establish general standards regarding the study of history with which all school systems must comply, whereas private educational institutions are independent of the state and do not need to adhere to governmental standards.
     Another vital task of education is the elimination of ignorant stereotypes and bigotry, through the spread of diverse ideas. Early exposure of children to diverse intellectual and cultural disciplines lays the foundation for tolerance for those who are “different.” In other words, if educators introduce children to ideas from many walks of life and schools of thought, then children are more likely to grow up to be open-minded individuals who are tolerant of that which is “different” from them. Bigotry is a direct product of ignorance, or insufficient knowledge about something or someone, and the only defense against the spread of ignorance is education. For instance, if children are not educated about the culture and history of Italy, then they could grow up to base their entire perspective of the Italian nationality on a single encounter with an unkind person who happened to be of Italian descent; thus begins the cycle of prejudice that ignorant people unwittingly fall into, often teaching their children to acquire the same perverse adherence to stereotypes. If backward stereotypes and prejudices are permitted to spread unchecked, they will eventually permeate the government administration and policies, thereby threatening the rights and freedoms of the general public. Therefore, it is essential that education is readily available to all children, regardless of their parents’ incomes, and public school systems are the only institutions that fulfill this necessity, providing a virtually universal availability of education to all children regardless of financial barriers.
     While education provides students with information and ideas to build their intelligence, it must also build responsible character in students. Throughout history, there have been brutal tyrants, such as Adolf Hitler, who used their intelligence to harm their people; therefore, an educational system that fosters intelligence alone is not enough to raise a generation that will maintain a functional society that protects human rights. As Martin Luther King Jr. states, “Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only power of concentration, but worthy objectives upon which to concentrate.” Accordingly, the public school system has the vital task of helping to foster values that are constructive to society and human relationships, such as honesty, patience, diligence, responsibility, and compassion. Thus, school administrators strive to exemplify these virtues and establish school regulations that reinforce virtuous character, so that children will be more likely to learn to use their intelligence in a positive manner. Additionally, school curriculums, particularly for social students or history, emphasize the need for justice and kindness to coexist with intelligence. Through education for intellect as well as character, society can safeguard itself against the future emergence of intelligent minds used to inflict harm.
     While public education assumes many valuable functions in society, three especially significant tasks of education involve the study of the past, the elimination of prejudice, and the building of character. All of these functions are essential to the success and well-being of the American democratic society: the study of the past gives new generations the chance to avoid their predecessors’ mistakes, the elimination of prejudice protects human rights, and the building of character puts intelligence to positive and constructive use. Thus, the universal availability of public education has the power the help preserve the fundamental guarantee of rights and liberties that is the cornerstone of the American democratic system.

SECOND PLACE
Amanda Chartier
Toll Gate High School
Grade 12

“The Melting Pot”

    “It must be remembered that the purpose of education is not to fill the minds of students with facts – it is to teach them to think.” This quote by Robert M. Hutchins, president of the University of Chicago, accurately describes the link between education and society. Through education, students learn to develop their own ideas and theories; these ideas and theories fall into the fundamental beliefs of America’s democratic and free society. Free speech and thought are of the greatest American liberties, and are rooted deep within America’s classrooms. From the basic teachings of literacy in grade school, to the application of society in secondary school, education provides a basis for freedom of speech and thought. Diverse ideas are born and bred between each tinkling of each school bell. Discussions and debates provide many opportunities for students to exchange ideas, while promoting the formation of one’s own opinion. These unique opinions and expressions of ideas preserve the rights and liberties of America in ways that are exclusive to education – public education in particular. Public education allows students of many different backgrounds to gather and discuss ideas, whereas private schools are typically comprised of students of high economic standing and similar backgrounds. Public education serves as a melting pot of both ideas and cultures, teaching students to think in the broad and open-minded terms that define America.
    Whether one is traveling through the halls of a school or through America’s backyard, the rights and privileges of free speech are in full effect. Public education, however, allows for an environment in which students of various backgrounds may explore, debate, and discuss popular topics. This helps students to develop the habits of free speech and comparative thinking. Even the basic teachings of literacy fall into play, for it is upon literacy that students may blossom into coherent thinkers. Kofi Annan, secretary general of the United Nations, states, “Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope. It is a tool for daily life in modern society. It is a bulwark against poverty, and a building block of development, an essential complement to investments in roads, dams, clinics, and factories. Literacy is a platform for democratization, and a vehicle for the promotion of cultural and national identity. Especially for girls and women, it is an agent of family health and nutrition. For everyone, everywhere, literacy is, along with education in general, a basic human right – literacy is, finally, the road to human progress and the means through which every man, woman and child can realize his or her full potential.” As stated, literacy is a platform of democracy; the ability to read gives way to the ability to reason. Reason, in turn, provides one with the ability to formulate opinions; thus, free speech is born, and treasured rights are preserved. Without education, one could not develop into a literate individual, and would be unable to take advantage of America’s rights and liberties.
    In essence, public schools are microcosms of America itself. The varying social and economic backgrounds found in public schools mirror those of America’s cities and streets. In learning to discuss and debate with fellow classmates, students are learning to interact comfortably and effectively with individuals of any background. The ability to express ideas to anyone falls into the America’s greatest right – freedom of speech. America continually grants the right to every member of society, yet education cultures and enables this right for use. The great philosopher Socrates once stated, “Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.” Education sparks the desire and ability to exercise the right of free speech, rather than cluttering its students’ minds with inane facts. Public schools provide a breeding ground of ideas, as well as free speech exercises in which any individual may partake. The bridging of cultures around an academic theme is a concept unique to public schools, and serves as an effective preservation of America’s rights and liberties.
    Between the teachings of literacy and the bridging of cultures, public education is a perfect melting pot of free speech and ideas. As America considers free speech one of its greatest rights and liberties, public education is a preservative for these timeless and valuable rights. Former President John F. Kennedy himself once said, “Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. Our requirements for world leadership, our hopes for economic growth, and the demands of citizenship itself in an era such as this all require the maximum development of every young American’s capacity. Education is our fundamental resource.” Without public education, liberties and rights would evaporate with the passing of time; in turn, America could not prosper. Through public education, America continues to blossom as a free and successful nation.

THIRD PLACE
Ashley Paquin
Cumberland High School
Grade 11

The Importance of Public Education
to our Democratic Society

     Henry David Thoreau once said, “What does education often do? It makes a straight cut ditch of a free meandering brook.” Even in the 1800’s the American author and philosopher was able to foresee the consequences of education with the implementation of diverse ideas. Public education plays an important role in today’s society, especially in respect to the preservation of the liberties we are lucky enough to experience here in America due to our democratic society. The democratic society of America is by definition “of the people.” The environment and diversity of public education is crucial in molding well-rounded, capable citizens who will, later in life, be responsible for our government. I feel that public education and the exchange of diverse ideas are crucial to the preservation of our democratic society due to the environment provided to America’s youth which allows them to develop into exposed, intelligent citizens.
     Public education, responsible for molding the minds of our future, serves as an outlet through which students come to learn and comprehend the ways of our democratic and free society. Teachers from all backgrounds, races, and genders come together to share their individual perspectives to communicate the rights and liberties of our world to their students. As an enclosed environment, public schools serve as the perfect environment for these rights and liberties to be understood, tested, and followed before the developing minds of our students are released into the outside world. The public education system helps to create a microcosm of diversity and celebration of democracy within America’s public schools.
     Public education brings together a diverse group of teachers and students who together are able to learn from the difference existing without our free society. Today racism, sexism, and homophobia continue to plague our world, even as we continue to develop and mature as a people. Public education creates a melting pot of races, genders, and sexual orientations who share and experience a diversity necessary to the melting pot which is America. Teachers and students alike are able to experience and learn from all kinds of people through the attendance of and development through the public school system. Through this system of public education and sharing of diverse ideas teachers, students, and administrators are able to preserve the rights and liberties of our democratic and free society.
     Here in the land of the free we are able to experience a democratic society through which rights, liberties, and freedoms are granted to all people. Our forefathers, some products of public education system present during America’s early years, slaved long and hard to develop the system of democracy in place today. It is now left in our hands to preserve the rights and liberties currently enjoyed by Americans. How does public education make that possible for the developing minds of today, you ask? Firstly, the most important step in the preservation of an idea, object, or place is to know its past. In public school usually one, if not two, credits of U. S. History are required in order to graduate. In these classes students are able to learn the history and building blocks of our government, along with gaining a gracious respect for the society we live in today. A desire to preserve our democratic society will begin to develop within a select group of students, who will later become our mayors, Congressmen, and White House officials. Not only do public schools allow for education in the matter of knowledge, but also for opportunities and encouragement in the matter of personal development. A melting pot of public school educators allows for a variety of teaching methods and opportunities for a variety of personal results in response to this diversity. Public school educators are given the chance to develop their own teaching style, which allows them to enhance the curriculum and the lives of their students. Some teachers favor cooperative learning and group projects, where students are able to develop leadership and cooperative working skills. Other teachers favor independent study, where the student learns the importance of self-reliance and personal development. Making use of their desire to preserve the democratic society of America, students are able to develop the necessary skills needed to achieve this goal through cooperative learning and independent study incorporated within their public schools. Public education is crucial in the process of molding the minds of our governments future through student development made possible by diverse teaching methods.
     A final component of the impact of public education on the democracy of our world is the preservation of our free society. In public schools students are met with and educated on a variety of facts, ideas, and theories. Along the path of student development, the student must use their own knowledge in order to decipher this information and decide for themselves which theories and ideas they will later come to believe and represent. The right to choose is developed within students at a very young age. This sheer fact alone encourages our youth to cherish and understand the great importance of our right to choose here in America, crucial to later preservation of choice in our world. The components of student development and student appreciation of choice, both developed through the public school system, come together to ensure that the students of today will be the protectors of democracy tomorrow.
     In conclusion, public education serves as an outlet through which students are able to cherish the importance of our democratic and free society. Our schools bring together a diverse group of teachers and students who together are able to learn from the multifariousness existing within our free society. As an enclosed environment, public schools provide a chance for students to come to cherish our democratic society and the right to choose provided by such. In order to preserve our democratic society today for the Americans of tomorrow, we must remember the wisdom of Henry David Thoreau, “What does education often do? It makes a straight cut ditch of a free meandering brook.”