The Value Of Reading and Writing
In "Learning to Read and Write", Douglass goes through the process of becoming literate. During, Douglass time slaves were to be illerate. However, Douglass taught himself with the help of others how to read and write. He took the time each chance he could to better himself. In our society, it is easier for us to learn to read and write. We have the option of going to school to learn. We have the help of teachers to help us achieve. We all have the option to get knowledge. Douglass, on the other hand, had to achieve his undercover and in private. He was never given the option to go school. We have the opportunity to learn to read and write in order to gain success. Douglass kept a positive mind set and never gave up. We sometimes take it for granted and give up all at the same time. That's just a prime example, of what Douglass had to go through to actually learn. We have it in our hand do not want to use it at times. The saying goes, “hide it in a book" and it mostly refers to blacks because most of us have the ability to read and write but still refuse to use it. It was hard for blacks to get an education and we have it freely and do not take advantage of it. People actually had to fight to be able to get the advantage to learn. There are many opportunities there for us to achieve. We actually had to have people to fight for equality when it came to learning to read and write. So we should be glad that we are able to without putting up a fight like Douglass.
The question is: How much value is placed on learning to read and write? Were you excited about the learning to read and write and are the benefits helping you become successful?
5 comments:
I can remember when I first learned to read and write. I thought I was so smart because at the time that was a major achievement in my life. It was not a simple task for me and I was helped and supported by my teachers and family to learn to read or write, so I know it must have been very hard to learn in the circumstances that Douglass was in. No one supported him, in fact they discouraged it. So many times we take the smallest things for granite. For example, our education. It's basically given to us and still so many people refuse it.
I remember the first time I was able to read a book by myself and I felt smart because I did not need my mother and father read to me anymore. I agree with what Lauren C said that we take things such as being able to read and write for granted.
After reading Douglass essay it made me think about how thankful that I had the privilege of learning to read and write instead of having to learn it all by myself. It really makes you think twice about taking these small things for granted when someone like Douglass worked so hard for something some of us find so simple.
Yes, it does make you think about the things one takes for granted. Nowadays everyone is expected to know how to read and write because of the public school system. In which all school age children have to attend school.
As Lauren said "our education is basically given to us and so many people refuse it." She is referring to the amount of people who do not care enough about school that they flunk out or drop out before they can graduate from high school.
Personally i feel as though vaulues are placed on reading and writing for some but for others its not taken that serious. I can recall that i first started reading when i was four and one of the main reasons i started is because i was nosy but i appreciate reading and writing because it has helped me to achieve a lot!
I agree with Quanita, we take reading and writing for granted. It is drilled into us at an early age because people have learned that it is easier to lean at an early age. The greatest thing that set Douglass apart from the rest was his amazing trust for knowledge. People today don’t seem to have that kind of trust.
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