9/21/01 Professor Hunter

Education: The Foundation of a Republic

In wake of our recent tragedy, Americans all over seem to be pulling together to support the U.S. and its actions. They are flying their flags and pledging allegiance with devotion. This display is about more than showing pride in our country. Americans are showing pride for democracy, which is perhaps what makes our country so strong. Democracy thrives off of its citizens involving themselves in their government. Whether it's by lobbying, protesting to make social changes, or simply by voting, people have always played an extremely important role. However, if the citizens were unable to comprehend the workings of their government, then the foundations of our country would begin to crumble. Without education of the masses, democracy would cease to exist. When Plato was forming his ideal society, he stressed the importance of education for several reasons. Most importantly, educating citizens led to a peaceful, well-run republic. For Plato, education was not about information intake and data storage. Rather, education was a

Plato's views on education are a model of the 'learning society'-- the polis, our government, is serviced by its educators. It can only exist as a rational form if its members are trained- and continue to grow. An educated society is essential for survival of democracy, and every single citizen has the right to this education. "The power to learn is present in everyone's soul and the instrument with which each learns is like an eye that cannot be turned around from darkness to light without turning the whole body" (pg. 190, 518c).

Plato's relevance to modern day education can be seen at a number of levels. First, he believed, and demonstrated, that educators must have a deep care for the well-being and future of those they work with. Educating is a moral enterprise and it is the duty of educators to search for truth and virtue, and in so doing guide those they have a responsibility to teach. Second, there is the 'Socratic teaching method'. The teacher must know his or her subject, but as a true philosopher he or she also knows that the limits of their knowledge. It is here that we see the power of dialogue. Plato stressed that knowledge does not come from teaching but from questioning. Third, there is his conceptualization of the differing educational requirements associated with various life stages. We see in his work the classical Greek concern for body and mind. He emphasized curriculum in both physical activity, and in poetry and music, and the importance of exercise and discipline, of story telling and games. "Aren't these the reasons, Glaucon that education in music and poetry is most important? First because rhythm and harmony permeate the inner part of the soul more than anything else, affecting it most strongly and bringing it grace, so

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Approximate Word count = 1200
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)