Privilege

Jonathan Lightfoot

Many approaches can be taken to better understand the relationship between privilege and education. A foundations of education approach assumes multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary applications and explore the relationship by using historical, philosophical, political, and sociological perspectives. A legal approach that may look at case law argues that education is either a right or a privilege in both the private and public domain. Still another approach would be to look at the relationship between privilege and education with a global lens whereby different countries are assessed as to their regard for education and who receives it. This entry makes a quick survey of thinking in all of these areas. In the United States, Thomas Jefferson was perhaps the most articulate spokesperson on behalf of free education for all children. He believed that a democracy depended upon a literate and informed citizenry. Another icon of early American education was Benjamin Franklin, who ...

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