Purified Education Is the Best Selection for Childhood

In the third book of The Republic by Plato, some views are summed up here. “True art is not fanciful and imitative, but simple and ideal, – the expression of the highest moral energy, whether in action or repose. To live among works of plastic art which are of this noble and simple character, or to listen to such strains, is the best of influences, – the true Greek atmosphere, in which youth should be brought up. That is the way to create in them a natural good taste, which will have a feeling of truth and beauty in all things.” (University of Adelaide) This argument from Socrates for the education of the guardians is reasonable and scientific. He emphasizes the importance of purifying the childhood education. What a man will be to a large extent depends on what education he receives during his childhood. A good education can guide him to a good future direction. A person who doesn’t know what truth and beauty are is not qualified for being a guardian. Therefore, the guardians' education is primarily moral in nature, focusing on the blind acceptance of beliefs and behaviors instead of the ability to think critically and independently.

In the earliest years of childhood, the story telling is believed to be the best way to teach. So the story to tell must be strictly examined and censored because young children are malleable and easily influenced by what they are exposed. Socrates argues that, "A young thing can't judge what is hidden sense and what is not; but what he takes into his opinions at that age has a tendency to become hard to eradicate and unchangeable" (Book Ⅲ). When unable to distinguish between the good and the bad, children will tend only to use bad examples to justify their bad behavior subconsciously. Moreover, children are easy to accept whatever they are told even without any thinking by themselves. Socrates also argues that anything in youth "assimilates itself to the model whose stamp anyone wishes to give to it" (Book Ⅲ). That also means children can be shaped entirely by the well-designed education to meet the requirement of the nation and the rulers. When they grow up, they will be brave enough in the battles against the enemies, but gentle and friendly with their acquaintance. Most important, they can show great loyalty and obedience to the rulers. The carefully-chosen tales aim to implant virtue and a certain theology in the hearers. Meantime, Socrates names some poets, like Hesiod and Homer and points out that these two are not creating appropriate tales for the youth. The works of Hesiod and Homer should be abandoned because these poets' tales include harmful lies. If children get to know that, it would result in more unrealistic images of the gods and heroes (Book Ⅲ). Children must be exposed to the active sides at any moment and avoid any negative things lest they should be influenced. For instance, Gods and the rulers, must never be shown as unjust for fear that children will take it for granted to do injustice. Fighting, conflicts, riots between the Gods or rulers shouldn’t appear in front of the children. Listening to the refined tales, the youths will get to understand the importance of unity and will be well disinclined. Furthermore, good stories must also foster courage, moderation, and justice for the children. Honorable death should be encouraged so that the guardians will not fear death (Book Ⅲ). In contrast, the figure Achilles should be taken away from all tales. Children shouldn’t witness the scenes of any lamenting or displays of immoderate emotion to avoid the possibilities of imitating (Book Ⅲ). Additionally, excessive laughter in stories are not acceptable, either. (Book Ⅲ). The moderate character of the guardians is the most desirable. None of the extreme sentiments is allowed. They should behave themselves amenable to their superiors and be in suitable temperance in their daily life, particularly towards money and possessions since being a householder, or a tradesman is not their life target (Book Ⅲ). Bravery should also be taught by appropriate story-telling, which will make the guardians courageous in the battles and fearless with death (Book Ⅲ). Following that, Socrates discusses whether simple or imitative narrative should be used. Socrates states that "Imitations, if they are practiced continually from youth onwards, become established as habits and nature, in body and sounds and in thought" (Book Ⅲ). As a result, the right style of the narrative should be mostly non-imitative, but the imitation of moderate and obedient men can be acceptable (Book Ⅲ). Finally, regarding the music for education, Socrates allows only mild and austere melodies. Only inspiring music, which can foster courage and bravery, is allowed, whereas the music that can incur harmful mood should be ruled out. (Book Ⅲ). Socrates holds that Rhythm and harmony can better educate the souls of the guardians; the highest virtues and refined taste can be acquired by refined education.

All above mentioned content that Socrates proposes, are related to the education for moral building for the guardians. The reason Socrates suggests developing the youth in that way is because the roles that the guardians play in the Republic. The guardians are born to defend their nation and citizens, as well as their rulers. That is also subject to the strict social classes preset and defined in the Republic. Thus, it is normal some limitations exist. However, the ideas and logic are very progressive at that time and can still be used for reference for current education, notably, the childhood education. The prevailing theory for childhood education nowadays is as follows.

It is widely recognized that the nervous system in children develops the fastest in early childhood, and it is the most critical period for all kinds of potential development. It is a good time for education. According to the theory of sensitive period and brain development, the time for human’s sensitiveness to all kinds of information and the development of abilities is mainly in the first years of life. This period is a unique and significant stage in people’s development, and also is the best opportunity to gain wisdom for the children. A proper education can activate the child's brain development and personality growth, which will set up a solid foundation for his future development. A famous animal experiment performed by American scientist decades ago on the owl shows that the early education can make the brain have a lasting physical changes. The things it learned in the first stage of the life still impress its adulthood. In other words, the early childhood education will leave a permanent influence on people. Notably, when children are at two or three years old, they have the strongest observation and imitation abilities. But the discernment for behaviors is relatively weak. Thus, it is very crucial to filter the materials and images that they are exposed.

As for the music education, it is also widely accepted that music is another form of food or language. Music is one of the most practical approaches to develop the intuitive thinking and imagination for a person. It can help foster the concentrating ability and moderate characteristics for a person. The person growing up in an environment full of appropriate music will be more likely to have a stable and compatible personality, which is desirable to the harmonious society.

Some people may argue that the high-level moral of a person is not acquired by the education. Just as the famous saying in China none of the humans was born to be evil. Babies are all innocent and kind. They initially possess the proper virtues. However, with the growing up, the surroundings, e.g. his parents’ low-grade behaviors, or the improper conducts from his neighborhood, impose on them a lot of bad influences. What’s more, incidents during his life can as well alter the personalities and change the course of his life. In response to those arguments, Socrates already takes all that into consideration in advance. Socrates suggests children should be separated from their parents and their original culture to get a purified education. All the distractions and wrong concepts should be eliminated during the childhood education so as to develop a qualified talent for the nation. Prevention of any risks, many tests should also be implemented to examine whether the talent is capable enough facing all kinds of difficulties and challenges. So, the purified education is indeed a feasible way to develop a person’s virtues.

In consolidation for the ideas, more importance should be attached to the childhood education, for childhood is a very critical time for people to form his characters and virtues. The teaching materials should also be selected carefully. Meantime, the monitoring period is necessary to improve the quality of the talents and pick out the incompetent ones. Socrates’s proposals on purified education for childhood are still worth studying and developing further in nowadays.