In the spirit of MLK, we must rediscover the purpose of education

In 1947, an 18-year-old student published an op-ed in his college newspaper titled, “The Purpose of Education.” “We must remember that intelligence is not enough,” wrote the young Martin Luther King, Jr. “Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.”

King ended his essay with a warning. “If we are not careful, our colleges will produce a group of close-minded, unscientific, illogical propagandists, consumed with immoral acts. Be careful, ‘brethren!’ Be careful, teachers!” 

While the young King’s essay has not received the same attention as his other work, it is no less important. King’s philosophy on education has informed what we are doing as leaders of a civil rights organization committed to advancing fairness, understanding and humanity — values central to King’s pro-human worldview. Promoting, teaching and living these values is important because, as the young King observed, “The most dangerous criminal may be the man gifted with reason, but with no morals.” 

As advocates for Dr. King’s pro-human philosophy, we aim to carry out what he lived and died for. King wanted adversaries to “sit at the table of brotherhood” and come together. That is what we do every day. He wanted people to be better educated and exposed to different people and opinions.

This is the focus of our work. Our goal is to “walk the walk” and work to heal the divisions and ignorance that contribute to racism and intolerance in our society. And we do this not just on MLK Day but every day throughout the year, because it is hypocritical to revere Dr. King as a role model and hold up his “I Have a Dream” speech as one of the greatest speeches ever delivered since the Gettysburg Address but not aspire to live the values of which Dr. King dreamed.