"The Purpose of Education"

Author:  King, Martin Luther, Jr.

Date:  September 1, 1946 to January 31, 1947 ?

Location:  Atlanta, Ga. ?

Genre:  Published Article

Topic:  Martin Luther King, Jr. - Political and Social Views

This essay, written sometime during King’s junior year at Morehouse, may be an early draft of the article of the same name published in the  Maroon Tiger . He suggests that education should not only “teach man to think intensively” but also provide “worthy objectives upon which to concentrate.”

Last week we attempted to discuss the purpose of religion. This week our attention moves toward education. I will attempt to answer the question, what is the purpose of education?

To my mind, education has a two-fold function in society. On the one hand it should discipline the mind for sustained and persistent speculation. On the other hand it should integrate human life around central, focusing ideals. It is a tragedy that the latter is often neglected in our educational system.

Education should equip us with the power to think effectively and objectively. To think is one of the hardest things in the world, and to think objectively is still harder. Yet this is the job of education. Education should cause us to rise beyond the horizon of legions of half truth, prejudices and propaganda. Education should enable us to “weigh and consider,” to discern the true from the false, the relevant from the irrelevant, and the real from the unreal. 1  The first function of education, therefore, is to teach man to think intensively. But this is not the whole of education. If education stops here it can be the most dangerous force in society. Some of the greatest criminals in society have been men {who) possessed the power of concentration and reason, but they had no morals. Perhaps the most dangerous periods in civilization have been those periods when there was no moral foundation in society.

Education without morals is like a ship without a compass, merely wandering nowhere. It is not enough to have the power of concentration, but we must have worthy objectives upon which to concentrate. It is not enough to know truth, but we must love truth and sacrifice for it.

1.  “Read not to contradict and confute; nor yet to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider” (Francis Bacon, “Of Studies,” in  The Works of Francis Bacon , ed. James Spedding, R. L. Ellis, and D. D. Heath [New York: Hurd and Houghton, 1877], p. 252). King used the phrase “weigh and consider” in three papers written at Crozer Theological Seminary (“Light on the Old Testament from the Ancient Near East,” 14 September–24 November 1948, p. 180 in this volume; “The Sources of Fundamentalism and Liberalism Considered Historically and Psychologically,” 13 September–23 November 1949, p. 237; and Book review of  A Functional Approach to Religious Education  by Ernest J. Chave, 12 September–22 November 1950, p. 355).

Source:  MLKP-MBU, Martin Luther King, Jr., Papers, 1954-1968, Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center, Boston University, Boston, Mass.

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Martin Luther King Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on martin luter king.

Martin Luther King Jr. was an African-American leader in the U.S. He lost his life while performing a peaceful protest for the betterment of blacks in America. His real name was Michael King Jr. He completed his studies and attained a Ph.D. After that, he joined the American Civil Right Movement. He was among one of the great men who dedicated their life for the community.

Martin Luther King Essay

Reason for Martin Luther King to be famous

There are two reasons for someone to be famous either he is a good man or a very bad person. Martin Luther King was among the good one who dedicated his life to the community. Martin Luther King was also known as MLK Jr. He gained popularity after he became the leader and spokesperson of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s.

Martin Luther King was an American activist, minister, and humanitarian. Also, he had worked for several other causes and actively participated in many protests and boycotts. He was a peaceful man that has faith in Christian beliefs and non-violence. Also, his inspiration for them was the work of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. For his work in the field of civil rights, the Nobel Committee awarded him the Nobel Peace Prize.

He was a great speaker that motivated the blacks to protest using non-violence. Also, he uses peaceful strategies like a boycott, protest march , and sit-ins, etc. for protests against the government.

Impact of King

King is one of the renowned leaders of the African-American who worked for the welfare of his community throughout his life. He was very famous among the community and is the strongest voice of the community. King and his fellow companies and peaceful protesters forced the government several times to bend their laws. Also, kings’ life made a seismic impact on life and thinking of the blacks. He was among one of the great leaders of the era.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Humanitarian and civil rights work

As we know that King was a civic leader . Also, he has taken part in many civil right campaigns and boycotts like the Bus Boycott, Voting Rights and the most famous March on Washington. In this march along with more than 200,000 people, he marched towards Washington for human right. Also, it’s the largest human right campaign in U.S.A. history. During the protest, he gave a speech named “I Have a Dream” which is history’s one of the renowned speeches.

Death and memorial

During his life working as a leader of the Civil Rights Movement he makes many enemies. Also, the government and plans do everything to hurt his reputation. Martin Luther King was assassinated in 1968. Every year the US celebrates his anniversary as Martin Luther King Jr. day in the US. Also, they honored kings’ memory by naming school and building after him and a Memorial at Independence Mall.

Martin Luther King was a great man who dedicated his whole life for his community. Also, he was an active leader and a great spokesperson that not only served his people but also humanity. It was due to his contribution that the African-American got their civil rights.

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martin luther king essay pdf

Dreams and Declarations: Five Powerful Quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

F rom the middle of the 1950s until his passing in 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a Baptist clergyman and civil rights activist, played a significant role in the American civil rights movement. Atlanta, Georgia, was the place of his birth on January 15, 1929. Because of his Christian views, he is well-recognized for using nonviolent civil disobedience to advance civil rights. His lectures and sermons are still studied and appreciated today since he is considered one of America's best orators.

One of King's most famous speeches, the "I Have a Dream" speech, was delivered on August 28, 1963, during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. In the speech, he called for an end to racism in the United States and for civil and economic rights for African Americans . The speech was a defining moment of the civil rights movement and is considered to be one of the greatest speeches in American history.

After King's assassination in 1968, a campaign was launched to make his birthday, January 15, a national holiday . Civil rights organizations, labor unions, and religious groups led the campaign. However, the campaign faced significant opposition, with many lawmakers arguing that King's holiday would be too costly and that he did not deserve the honor. Despite this opposition, the campaign continued, and on November 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill making Martin Luther King Jr. Day a federal holiday, which was first observed on January 20, 1986.

The holiday is now celebrated across the United States and is seen as a day to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and his fight for civil rights. Many people take the day to reflect on his teachings and to volunteer in their communities in honor of his service and dedication to social justice. It is a day to remember the sacrifices he made for the rights and freedom of African Americans and to honor his legacy by continuing the fight for equality and civil rights for all people.

Martin Luther King Jr. was an incredible leader and an influential figure in American history. His sermons and speeches inspire people to this day, and his birthday, January 15, has become a national holiday to commemorate his life and legacy. His teachings and nonviolent approach to civil rights have impacted American society and the world. His birthday serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for civil rights and equality and the importance of continuing to work toward a just and equitable society. Below are five impactful quotes from Martin Luther King Jr.

  • "We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people."
  • "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
  • "A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death."
  • "The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education."
  • "I submit to you that if a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live."

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The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project has made the writings and spoken words of one of the twentieth century's most influential figures widely available through the publication of  The Papers of Martin Luther King, Jr.,  a projected fourteen-volume edition of King's most historically significant speeches, sermons, correspondence, published writings, and unpublished manuscripts. 

Volume VII Cover

The Papers of Martin Luther King, Jr. Volume VII: To Save The Soul of America, January 1961–August 1962 Clayborne Carson and Tenisha Armstrong, eds. 2014

Volume VI Cover

The Papers of Martin Luther King, Jr. Volume VI: Advocate of the Social Gospel, September 1948–March 1963 Clayborne Carson, Susan Carson, Susan Englander, Troy Jackson, and Gerald L. Smith, eds. 2007

The Papers of Martin Luther King, Jr. Volume V: Threshold of a New Decade, January 1959–December 1960 Clayborne Carson, Tenisha Armstrong, Susan Carson, Adrienne Clay, and Kieran Taylor, eds. 2005

The Papers of Martin Luther King, Jr. Volume IV: Symbol of the Movement, January 1957–December 1958 Clayborne Carson, Susan Carson, Adrienne Clay, Virginia Shadron, and Kieran Taylor, eds. 2000

The Papers of Martin Luther King, Jr. Volume III: Birth of a New Age, December 1955–December 1956 Clayborne Carson, Stewart Burns, Susan Carson, Dana Powell, and Peter Holloran, eds. 1997

The Papers of Martin Luther King, Jr. Volume II: Rediscovering Precious Values, July 1951–November 1955 Clayborne Carson, Ralph Luker, Penny A. Russell, and Peter Holloran, eds. 1994

The Papers of Martin Luther King, Jr. Volume I: Called to Serve, January 1929–June 1951 Clayborne Carson, Ralph Luker, and Penny A. Russell, eds. 1992

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