Benjamin Franklin was an extraordinary thinker who was forward looking and visionary in his concept of education. Most of all he was a firm believer in the independence of the individual and the harnessing of talents to achieve that aim. His suggestions are definitely hugely intriguing and stimulating if they are to be considered for a school curriculum.
His proposals as espoused in the article certainly provide food for thought in many ways and almost read like a modern school’s curriculum and list of activities. Most importantly he assesses the importance of creating a library in the school thus making it a fount for learning, something which is definitely important for the advancement of the said school.
Personally this would mean that the educational curriculum would not just be strict and to the letter but will also create opportunities for those who wish to branch out into various fields apart from those which are traditional. This definitely creates opportunities for those who are not completely stuck to the drawing board and who are out of sorts and out of touch with what the world really needs.
Franklin suggests a myriad of subjects in the proposed curriculum which include the principle of the application of justice, science, astronomy and suchlike, certainly topics which require particular food for thought and intrinsic attention. His astonishingly detailed suggestions would certainly prove to be interesting and enlightening for the many who are faced with the daily dredge of life and who do not have much opportunity to move forward accordingly.
Subjects which are often overlooked in several school curriculums include geography and history which are im parted particular importance by Franklin in his article. I would heartily concur that it is important for those who wish to have creative thinkers in their midst to assess Franklin’s inimitable contribuitions to the letter as they certainly create a world which would be far better than it is now.
Additionally I believe that the introduction of several of these topics would certainly improve the values of good citizenship. One has to immediately assess how the values of good judgement and the defending of public morals are put to the test and not left to rot by the wayside in some jungle of immorality. More often than not, school curriculums completely abandon the teaching of moral subjects and focus more upon the academic prowess of the individual. This means that the school would grow up without morals and without opportunities to really test the waters of the world ahead.
Political development was something which was very dear to Franklin’s heart and the way he suggests this whole curriculum is definitely something to be commended. His suggestions should definitely find their way into any school curriculum as it is important that the creative thinking aspect of education is emphasised. I sincerely believe that with Franklin’s suggestions, schools and their students would be hugely enriched by these suggestions and that this would mean a world which would be a far better place for everyone to live in with a particular emphasis on creative thinking as the fulcrum for growth and advancement in life.
Works Cited:
Franklin B: Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pensilvania, Philadelphia, 1749; Pennsylvania State University Archives, Retrieved from: http://www.archives.upenn.edu/primdocs/1749proposals.html
