Essay on Education: Causes & Effects

1. Essay on Education: Causes & Effects
Education: Causes and Effects
In many situations, higher education separates people from their families, social backgrounds, and
cultures. This often causes mixed emotions, awkward feelings, and other conflicts. Some of these
conflicts are described in works such as "Aria" by Richard Rodriguez, and "The
Right to Write" by Frederic Douglass.
"Aria" comes from the biography of Richard Rodriguez, the son of two Mexican
immigrants. He describes his struggle to grow up in a primarily white, English–speaking area. As a
young child knowing less than fifty English words, Rodriguez began his schooling in Sacramento,
California. He not only faced the obstacle...show more content...
However, as Richard grew older, language became a real problem for him. He developed negative
feelings towards his parents because of their English. He felt a sense of embarrassment around them
in a social atmosphere. He says, "It was troubling for me to hear my parents speak in
public." Hearing them speak broken English also brought him a feeling of insecurity. "It
was unsettling to hear my parents struggle with English. Hearing them, I'd grow nervous, my
clutching trust in their protection and power weakened," said Rodriguez.
The language barrier was a disadvantage for Rodriguez because it created a barrier between his
home and public. He felt comfortable at home, speaking Spanish with his family, as he had his
whole life. However,
he became hesitant to go into public at all because of his language.
He says, "I'd rarely leave home at all alone or without reluctance." The language barrier
affected Rodriguez both emotionally and socially.
As and adult, Rodriguez became an award–winning writer. Despite the emotional and social
problems that Rodriguez dealt with earlier in his life, he learned to adapt and use the English
language for his advantage.
In "The Right to Write," the situation is much different. Frederick Douglass, the son of a
slave woman and
Get more content on HelpWriting.net