Emersons Philosophy on Education Individualism and the focus on the student appear to be the large feature of Ralph Waldo

Emersons philosophy on education. Inspiration, ideas of an ethical education, the roles of teachers, and the pace of what education should take are also important aspects of the Emersonian philosophy of education. All these parts of this philosophy link to Emersons belief that students learn by discovering things on their own. In his essay Education, Emerson advices his audience to teach students in a way that would ultimately lead the student to take part in his own self-discovery. He also connects nature to education and describes how it shows the ideal education for students. Genius is influenced by inspiration, which may be what he sees in forms or hears in music or apprehends in mathematics, or believes practicable in mechanic. (102) With that, Emerson believes that the first thing that creates inspiration is an individuals experiences in life. Genius, as Emerson describes as something in an individual which no one else sees or hears, is also influenced by the perception he has of nature or view of life. Because every individual has their own perception of life, they have their own affected inspirations and this also means they have their own form of genius. Emerson believes that each individual has their own forms of genius unique to them that is yet to be expressed but can be brought out to the world through self-discovery, which can be given to by Emersons ideal from of education. Emersons idea of a moral education connects largely with nature as his philosophy largely embraces it. Emerson believes in a natural method of education rather than a mechanical or military method. (104) Military methods, as Emerson describes it, are used in schools to deal with the masses of students and to save on the labor of teaching them. Although these methods maybe a quick and easy way to teach many students, they do not [meet] the wants of each single mind and run on slow and on bad natures.(106) The correct method that Emerson suggest is the natural method, which imports into Education the wisdom of life. This method involves the mutual pleasure of teaching and learning and teaches patience in learning, infusing the pace of Nature into education. Overall, Emersons philosophy towards education features incorporations of a Nature into teaching students, which may be called a natural way of teaching and learning. Emersons philosophy about a natural education is very suited to his beliefs about an individual. Mechanical, military type educations do not meet the wants of each single mind, however, with the natural pace that an Emersonian education suggests, students are able to cultivate their genius and allow it to grow. Emerson describes genius as [desiring] nothing so much as to be a pupil and to find those who can lend it aid to perfect itself. (103) Because there is a mutual pleasure of teaching and learning in a natural method, individuals are able to build their genius.