It all starts with the youth. What we teach our children and any children in our environment will resonate for generations. I firmly believe this. And as I look around at a hardening world where misinformation and hate are spread either deliberately or without concious thought I worry not just about the youth of today and tomorrow but of all adults now who were once kids and were taught to hate entire groups of people, to look out for themselves only, who were taught that the media never lies and that Facebook is a media outlet.

In Plato's Republic we find just about the most influential early account of education. His interest in soul, dialogue and in continuing education continue to provide rich insights to anyone in a teaching position--be it familial, professional or simply occassional. Education for Plato was one of the great things of life.

He held the view that without education, the individual would make no progress any more than a patient who believed in curing himself by his own loving remedy without giving up his luxurious mode of living. Therefore, Plato stated that education touches the evil at the grass root and changes the whole outlook on life.

The object of education is to turn the soul towards light. Plato states that the main function of education is not to put knowledge into the soul, but to bring out the latent talents in the soul by directing it towards the right objects. This explanation of Plato on education highlights his object of education and guides the readers in proper direction to unfold the ramifications of his theory of education. So let me share some of Republic as inspiration and remember: we shape the future by educating those who will live in it.


"Education, I said, and nurture: If our citizens are well educated, and grow into sensible men, they will easily see their way through all these, as well as other matters which I omit; such, for example, as marriage, the possession of women and the procreation of children, which will all follow the general principle that friends have all things in common, as the proverb says.
 
Also, I said, the State, if once started well, moves with accumulating force like a wheel. For good nurture and education implant good constitutions, and these good constitutions taking root in a good education improve more and more, and this improvement affects the breed in man as in other animals.
 
Then, as I was saying, our youth should be trained from the first in a stricter system, for if amusements become lawless, and the youths themselves become lawless, they can never grow up into well-conducted and virtuous citizens.
 
And when they have made a good beginning in play, and by the help of music have gained the habit of good order, then this habit of order, in a manner how unlike the lawless play of the others! will accompany them in all their actions and be a principle of growth to them, and if there be any fallen places a principle in the State will raise them up again.
 
It would seem, Adeimantus, that the direction in which education starts a man, will determine his future life. Does not like always attract like?"