Reflections on Education from…Confucius Thomas Jefferson Abraham Lincoln John Dewey Albert Einstein Amanda Bradley Power Point Presentation: Susan Erdakos

Confucius, circa 500 BCE “Only through education does one come to be dissatisfied with his own knowledge, and only through teaching others does one come to realize the uncomfortable inadequacy of his knowledge. Being dissatisfied with his own knowledge, one then realizes that the trouble lies with himself, and realizing the uncomfortable inadequacy of his knowledge one then feels stimulated to improve himself. Therefore, it is said, "the processes of teaching and learning stimulate one another."

Thomas Jefferson, 1810 Publicly Supported Education I have indeed two great measures at heart, without which no republic can maintain itself in strength: 1. That of general education, to enable every man to judge for himself what will secure or endanger his freedom. 2. To divide every county into hundreds, of such size that all the children of each will be within reach of a central school in it.

Abraham Lincoln “The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.”

John Dewey “Education is a social process; education is growth; education is not a preparation for life but is life itself.” The central concept of John Dewey's view of education was that greater emphasis should be placed on the broadening of intellect and development of problem solving and critical thinking skills, rather than simply on the memorization of lessons. One of Dewey's main theories was the incorporation of the student's past experiences into the classroom along with the incorporation of real life experiences.

Albert Einstein, 1936 Sometimes one sees in the school simply the instrument for transferring a certain maximum quantity of knowledge to the growing generation. But that is not right. Knowledge is dead. The school, however, serves the living. It should develop in the young individuals those qualities and capabilities which are of value for the welfare of the commonwealth. But that does not mean that individuality should be destroyed and the individual become a mere tool of the community, like a bee or an ant. For a community of standardized individuals without personal originality and personal aims would be a poor community without possibilities for development. On the contrary, the aim must be the training of independently acting and thinking individuals, who however, see in the service of the community their highest life problem.

Amanda Bradley contemporary poet for someone thoughtful it only takes one smile to offer welcome and blessed be the person who will share it. it only takes one moment to be helpful and blessed be the person who will spare it. it only takes one joy to lift a spirit and blessed be the person who will give it. it only takes one life to make a difference and blessed be the person who will live it.