Tuesday, February 11, 2014

In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, what are some quotes which demonstrate what the education system is like?

In Fahrenheit 451, there are a number of quotes which we can use to better understand the education system. In Part One, for example, when Beatty visits Montag at home, he reveals some information about the school day and the number of subjects which are taught:


School is shortened, discipline relaxed, philosophies, histories, languages dropped, English and spelling gradually neglected, finally almost completely ignored.


According to Beatty, this has an important effect on the...

In Fahrenheit 451, there are a number of quotes which we can use to better understand the education system. In Part One, for example, when Beatty visits Montag at home, he reveals some information about the school day and the number of subjects which are taught:



School is shortened, discipline relaxed, philosophies, histories, languages dropped, English and spelling gradually neglected, finally almost completely ignored.



According to Beatty, this has an important effect on the type of occupations which students pursue when they reach adulthood:



With school turning out more runners, jumpers, racers, tinkerers, grabbers, snatchers, fliers, and swimmers instead of examiners, critics, knowers, and imaginative creators.



Similarly, the reader learns a lot about the education system through the dialogue of Clarisse McClellan. In a conversation with Montag, for instance, she talks about her specific lessons:



An hour of TV class, an hour of basketball or baseball or running, another hour of transcription history or painting pictures, and more sports.



In addition, she provides more information about the type of teaching:



We never ask questions, or at least most don't; they just run the answers at you, bing, bing, bing, and us sitting there for four more hours of film-teacher.



By the end of the day, she says, students are so tired that they "can't do anything but go to bed or head for a Fun Park to bully people around."


Through these quotes, then, the reader is left with the impression of a highly-censored education system which teaches its students the absolute basics, instead of fostering intellectual curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. 

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