Benjamin Franklin’s Progressive Views on Education
Abstract
Benjamin Franklin was a talented, self-taught individual, that advocated for the availability of resources and education materials for individuals of all groups and socioeconomic status. Franklin had a lifetime of continual change and discontinuity. While Franklin may have been shocked with some of the educational focus shifts of today and not necessarily the development of a stronger democracy; he would be proud to see information available so freely to the masses. He is a notable philosopher of the Progressive Era and major contributor to the modern elective and school system within the United States. The notion that diligent academics can somehow compensate on their own may not be enough. The endeavor to evaluate teacher effectiveness only on the basis of test scores was founded on this premise. Benjamin Franklin’s life lends insight into a framework, or recipe, that educators may be able to use to better shape and develop students.
Benjamin Franklin’s Progressive Views on Education
What does it mean to be educated? Education often refers to formal instruction at a school or university, although the term encompasses a wide range of activities. Education refers to the process of gaining information, and it can be accomplished in a variety of methods. Of course, you may be taught in a classroom context, but you can also be educated through specialized training. Or, you can be like Franklin and educate yourself! As an author, political thinker, inventor, diplomat, politician, scientist and one of the founding fathers of the United States, Benjamin Franklin was a real Renaissance man. His effect on education is less well-known than his scientific and political achievements. Franklin was an author, diplomat, American printer, philosopher, and scientist who was widely considered as one of the country's greatest leaders for his contributions to the American Revolution and the subsequent federal government (Smith, 2020). Franklin did more than most people can imagine in their lifetime. He established the United States' first public library. Wood stoves, bifocals and the lightning rod are just a few of the products he developed. When you consider that Franklin only had two years of formal schooling, it's even more incredible.
Background and Cultural Context
Franklin had less than two years of formal schooling; yet, founded two colleges and aided many more. He was forced to develop his own educational system and the idea of practice. He was a life long learner. Franklin would carry on observations, experiments and recording results with insatiable curiosity. His life is a testimony to the value he placed on practical things. He had contempt for the existing college system, stating it was dominated by the wealthy and its devotion to useless ancient languages. He wished education to be a part of life, not an attribute. Franklin created secondary schools, which the upper middle class criticized. He advocated the Penn school, which was to prepare teachers; as well as to incorporate modern ideas: such as athletics, gardening, drawing and his establishment of the first permanent subscription library. He appreciated books. Aside from scientific papers, he also wrote educational papers addressing formal school education,self-education and adult education of the homegrown type. He created the collegiate elective system as well as the group system (Franklin 1709).
Philosophy of Education
Franklin was a self-made person who looked for truth and knowledge on his own, because he lacked the financial resources to be properly educated. Franklin did everything he could to help others acquire it. His effect on education is less well-known than his scientific and political achievements. Because one's personality is molded by one's surroundings, Franklin was opposed to traditional schooling and instead believed in innovative ways of student-led exploration and learning via individual experience. Because English was the commerce language in America, he preferred to learn English over the ancient languages. Students should acquire a second language after mastering the English language in order to become better business people (Bowers, 2016). Franklin also strongly stated that leaders must be outstanding speakers and writers. Franklin felt that real learning should be used to benefit people and the country.
Franklin's views were not universally accepted in his day, and they were frequently misapplied in subsequent years. He was also an outspoken critic of traditional education. Franklin's educational philosophy was unique in that he insisted on a college that drew students of all abilities from all socioeconomic backgrounds, actively and intentionally cultivating civic ideals in these students and equipping them with the practical skills they needed to deal with the pressing issues of the day. To put it another way, one of the main objectives is to serve society and the commonwealth.
Many have worked together to realize Franklin's wide democratic vision by forging democratic, mutually beneficial relationships with schools and communities.
Theory to Practice
Franklin was a great citizen who always went out of his way to serve others. Franklin gave volumes from his own library; allowing people to see which works had an impact on him and helped create his unique viewpoint. Others will be able to pursue their own studies in the same way as Franklin did! Franklin's political activities were always connected to his understanding of our social life, and frequently to the development of the institutional machinery essential to make our common lives more successful, according to his biography. Is a person's self-worth determined by their education? No! Franklin worked hard as a politician to enhance education and it was one of his top priorities. "Acting to enhance human well-being, and promoting lives of virtue and service to make this advancement possible," Franklin said. Franklin understood that knowledge of books provided him with a way into society. "The side of social mobility rather than an established aristocracy," said Franklin.
Perspectives on Diversity
Franklin was an outspoken opponent of chauvinism and slavery, believing that women and African-Americans should have access to education (Ferguson, 2019). He also favored the education of women. Franklin was also a proponent of African-American education. He contributed to the effort started by Thomas Bray, a man who devoted most of his life to charity and good deeds. Franklin contributed more to the American educational system than any other figure in the eighteenth century, having constructed libraries and schools and campaigned for female and African-American education. Franklin, on the other hand, believed in man and his perseverance. Franklin did not put God in the equation since reason secured man's prosperity.
Critical Analysis
Franklin equated financial success with happiness. While Franklin's ideals about acquiring languages and universal education are admirable, Christians cannot agree with his educational philosophy. God must be incorporated in the equation for Christian education since man is not self-sufficient. Franklin's educational concept was frequently distorted in American education into a "monetary value" system, with the notion that attending to school enhanced one's chances of acquiring money (Murphy, 2019). What would Franklin think about the current condition of education? "I'm almost sad I was born so quickly," Franklin added, "because I can't enjoy the satisfaction of knowing what will be known in 100 years" (Review, 2021). Would Franklin be content in today's America? As a connoisseur of written language and handwriting, I'm sure he'd be shocked and horrified by the thought of cursive handwriting becoming obsolete.
In 2011, state education requirements were aligned with Common Core Standards, and cursive writing became an optional element of the school curriculum. However, some child psychologists, physicians, and researchers point out that finger movement involved with handwriting stimulates brain areas linked to cognitive, linguistic, and even motor functions, according to neuroimaging studies. Senate Bill 120 is about more than future children learning to read and write cursive, Leising said. "Cursive writing has been shown to support and stimulate other forms of learning, all of which are critical for a child's growth. I serve as a member of the Education and Career Development committee to guarantee that Indiana students receive a well-rounded education."Alabama, California, Georgia, Kansas, and Massachusetts are among the states that have previously enacted cursive writing curriculum mandates. Because State Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz advised her that "language arts" is a necessary subject under Indiana law, and "reasoning" is a required subject under Indiana law, Leising stated her bill would also mandate reading in Indiana primary schools.
Implications and Conclusions
Benjamin Franklin was a strong supporter of American education and did everything he could to promote it and make knowledge more freely available. Franklin did everything he could to "promote the public welfare and to stress cooperative processes such as conversation and education in order to develop stronger democracy" (Tyack, 1966). Franklin founded the first subscription library, schools, buildings, museums, organizations and memorials are still named after him for all of his hard work for our country's education and well-being. Franklin illustrates that you don't have to go to a university to get an education; if you want one, you can get one on your own!A public library has all of the knowledge you could possibly want, and then some. Knowledge is a powerful tool! Today's early American materials students are fortunate to have a larger corpus to study, examine, critique, and think about. Even pupils from previous generations have experienced this.
References
Bowers, H. S., & Bowers, H. S. (2016, October 31). Benjamin Franklin's Philosophy of Education. coffeeshopthinking. https://coffeeshopthinking.wordpress.com/2013/10/11/benjamin-franklins-philosophy-of-education/.
Ferguson, M. (2019). Washington View: Lessons from Benjamin Franklin. Phi Delta Kappan, 100(7), 72–73. https://doi.org/10.1177/0031721719841344
Franklin, B. (2005). Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, 165–170. https://doi.org/10.9783/9780812200119.165
HONOR DEVI THAPA on May 1, 2013 7:38 A. M. (n.d.). Franklin's Impact on American Education. Franklin's Impact on American Education - Benjamin Franklin, Then and Now. http://www.personal.psu.edu/cjm5/blogs/benjamin_franklin_then_and_now/2013/05/franklins-impact-on-american-education.html.
Murphy, A. R. (2019). Thomas S. Kidd. Benjamin Franklin: The Religious Life of a Founding Father. The American Historical Review, 124(5), 1888–1889. https://doi.org/10.1093/ahr/rhz571
Review, P. (2021, April 29). Pursuing Franklin's Democratic Vision for Higher Education. Association of American Colleges & Universities. https://www.aacu.org/publications-research/periodicals/pursuing-franklins-democratic-vision-higher-education#:~:text=nothing%20is%20of,August%2023%2C%201750.
Smith, S. J. (2020). Windows into the history and philosophy of education. Kendall Hunt.
Tyack, D. (1966). Education as Artifact: Benjamin Franklin and Instruction of "A Rising People". History of Education Quarterly, 6(1), 3. https://doi.org/10.2307/367004