DESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN RELATION TO “I HAVE

A DREAM” BY MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR

MARIYAM SHAHUNEEZA NASEER PAGE 1 OF 3

DESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN

RELATION TO “I HAVE A DREAM” BY MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR

If the Education System must respond to the content and the spirit of the speech, “I

Have a Dream”, it is desirable that Education System have the following

characteristics.

The education system reflects the dominant values of society. Equality of educational

opportunity is one thing but equality of educational outcome is another and would not

fit with, for example, capitalism where the fittest survive and the education system is

designed to discriminate. Martin Luther King's dream included the scenario that all

men (and women) be created equal (as in having equality of educational outcome). Of

course, they are not. The capitalists design the system because they fund it. In other

systems unequal distribution of wealth and unchecked corruption ensure inequality.

Equality of educational outcome is unlikely even in our dreams.

Equality of educational opportunity is seen by some as a fundamental right. One can

dream about this but the nature of the global economic system makes it very hard for

many to take advantage of the opportunity even if it exists - which it might in truly

democratic systems. A pessimistic view might suggest that even so-called democratic

outcomes can be bought and sold. In a desirable education system every child should

have equal opportunity for education. “Social and cultural barriers and unequal

opportunities manifested in access to quality education remain one of the most serious

difficulties of national educational policies. Even in countries where educational

opportunities are in general widely available; inequalities remain in the ability of all

social groups to fully avail themselves of such opportunities, giving rise to early drop-

out from education and failure to obtain a useful qualification. Besides, language

often constitutes a barrier to access to and equality of opportunity in education as

regards possibilities of instruction in the mother tongue for the children belonging to

minorities or indigenous communities” (Singh, 2009). So it is a challenging job to

ensure that all children, especially the ones born with disadvantages and those who

are marginalized, have equality in educational opportunities not only written in law,

but in reality as well. Creating awareness about equalities of educational opportunities

DESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN RELATION TO “I HAVE

A DREAM” BY MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR

MARIYAM SHAHUNEEZA NASEER PAGE 2 OF 3

is very important. For example, ten years of free education with free text books could

be provided. In addition, other financial assistance could be provided for the

underprivileged children. This is one way of ensuring that all children have equal

opportunity to education. Special schools for the children who are born with

disadvantages could be built. That way it can be ensured that the disadvantaged

children have equal opportunity as well as that they are not discriminated against their

disability. Professor Alma Harris, Institute of Education – University of London,

pointed out in her recent inaugural lecture that all the money that the UK government

has spent on trying to improve failing schools in the United Kingdom has been

wasted. It would have been better spent on the communities from which the students

come in order to attempt to overcome economic disadvantage in those communities

which is the real cause of educational underperformance (School Improvement: one

size fits nobody, warns leading educationist, 2009). For an example let us consider

Baltimore. Look at the amount of cash that is spent on election campaigns. I think

there is considerable educational disadvantage to be found there and, I guess it's

rooted in economic disadvantage.

In a desirable education system there should be no discrimination of any form.

Although we believe that discrimination has been eradicated, especially in the

developed countries, it is just a false impression. “In one of the Midwestern Big Ten

Universities, a Latino student finds herself seeking work-study opportunities. She

types an approximate 90 words per minute and has some experience in fundamental

book keeping techniques. Her white roommate, who types approximately 40 words

per minute, and has no work history, but is also in the work-study program, is given a

position in the school library, while the Latino student is told the only position

available to her is in housekeeping” (Aurora's Racial Rant: Discrimination in the

Education System, 2008). This shows the extent to which we have discrimination in

education. It is desirable that the education system had no discrimination.

In a desirable education system, through the education system children should be well

disciplined, they should be taught about justice, through the lessons they should be

made aware of respecting other people’s rights as well as to abstain from wrongful

deeds. These could be taught by having class discussions for standards of behaviours

DESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN RELATION TO “I HAVE

A DREAM” BY MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR

MARIYAM SHAHUNEEZA NASEER PAGE 3 OF 3

instead of teacher listing them and telling the students to follow. In addition, teacher

can guide and encourage students to learn appropriate behaviour among themselves.

Routine classroom meetings for students to vent their feelings, to discuss classroom

issues and learn how to solve problems in a democratic setting could be established

(Education Reform: Beyond Discipline, n. d.).

For example in Baltimore City Public School, under the policies it is stated that

students have rights and should be taught that they are not lost when they go to school

but, the rights of one individual student must be balanced with the rights of all the

other students and the institution. Student rights are limited by the rights of others. All

students should make sure that their rights are being observed while also making sure

that the rights of others are being protected. This is also a way of ensuring that

students are aware of others rights and would do justice to others (Respecting the

Rights of Others, n. d.).

The fact that Martin Luther King was assassinated suggests that in reality his dream of

having equality among all men will remain a dream.

REFERENCES:

Aurora's Racial Rant: Discrimination in the Education System. (2008). Retrieved from

http://www.brotherhood2.com/mypants/viewtopic.php?id=5783

Education Reform: Beyond Discipline. (n. d.). Retrieved from

http://www.educationreformbooks.net/discipline.htm

Respecting the Rights of Others. (n. d.). Retrieved from

http://www.bcps.k12.md.us/About/Policies/Respecting_Others.asp

School Improvement: one size fits nobody, warns leading educationist. (2009, April 23).

Retrieved from http://www.ioe.ac.uk/newsEvents/24621.html

Singh, K. (2009). Overcoming inequalities in education: A right to education perspective.

Retrieved from

http://www.unesco.org/education/EFAWG2008/OvercomingInequalitiesinEducation_ARightt

oEducationPerspective.pdf