Education has now become the chief problem of the world, its one holy cause. The nations that see this will survive, and those that fail to do so will slowly perish. . . . There must be re-education of the will and of the heart as well as of the intellect; and the ideals of service must supplant those of selfishness and greed.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the critical role of education in shaping human values and societal survival.
G. Stanley Hall's quote highlights the profound importance of education not only as a means of acquiring knowledge but also as a vehicle for instilling values such as service over selfishness. He argues that nations that prioritize education, particularly in cultivating moral character and a sense of community, will thrive, while those that neglect this will face decline. The call for a holistic approach to education stresses that the development of will and heart is as vital as intellectual growth.
In practice
This quote can be used in a speech at an educational conference to emphasize the value of rethinking current educational paradigms.
The Negro race, like all races, is going to be saved by its exceptional men. The problem of education, then, among Negroes must first of all deal with the Talented Tenth; it is the problem of developing the Best of this race that they may guide the Mass away from the contamination and death of the Worst, in their own and other races.
The old lessons (work, self-discipline, sacrifice, teamwork, fighting to achieve) aren't being taught by many people other than football coaches these days. The football coach has a captive audience and can teach these lessons because the communication lines between himself and his players are more wide open than between kids and parents. We better teach these lessons or else the country's future population will be made up of a majority of crooks, drug addicts, or people on relief.
Misbehavior and punishment are not opposites that cancel each other - on the contrary they breed and reinforce each other.
I believe that education is the civil rights issue of our generation. And if you care about promoting opportunity and reducing inequality, the classroom is the place to start. Great teaching is about so much more than education; it is a daily fight for social justice.
Without the concepts, methods and results found and developed by previous generations right down to Greek antiquity one cannot understand either the aims or achievements of mathematics in the last 50 years. [Said in 1950]
Sadly, so many arts programs have been eliminated from schools due to budget constraints. These creative outlets are so very important, not only for a child's well-being, but also for self-expression and fun.
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