Question

In this essay ralph waldo emerson describes his view of an ideal education. what are its defining characteristics

Answer 1

According to Ralph Waldo Emerson an ideal education is to nurture in a child the kind of education he is naturally inclined to, this can be seen through his interests, habits etc. He said when a child is forced to study with other children and his natural abilities are suppressed to match other children in that class, that is not a healthy education for the child as he has to get dragged behind because not every child is a genius. Emerson gives the example of Plotinus and Socrates to show their natural ability to teach and calls them “Natural Teachers”. He suggests that everyone should take part in “mutual pleasure of teaching and learning”. He adds that female force is preferable to male force in natural teaching as that is more sympathetic rather than controlling.