Al-Jazirah

Freedom is a major humanitarian right for all human beings. It is the oxygen we breathe. Freedom is what differentiates us from animals. If we did not have freedom or were not able to express ourselves, then we would just be animals.

A child’s first encounter with restrictions to freedom starts at home. Some fathers or family members like to be dictators and so children end up obeying their parents without having a choice. In an environment such as this, children learn various ways of being dictatorial and oppressive. Therefore, when the child grows up and starts school, he or she encounters other dictators, in other words teachers.

Unfortunately, some teachers attempt to control the way students think. They do not give them the opportunity to think freely and out of the box. As a result, children feel that they should never express what they really feel regarding certain subjects. So, even if another teacher later on asks them to freely express their opinion, they are reluctant to do so. All of this is a result of the controlling environment children have grown up in.

Some teachers act as if they know everything and do not give students a chance to think. Obviously, children will grow up with weak personalities as they become convinced that their opinions are worthless.

In my opinion, a weak education is when children do not have the freedom to express their opinions. What is even worse is that some universities follow the same plan. Is it logical to treat mature grown-up students as sponges that are only meant to receive information? Is it rational to reject students who are willing to participate in class discussions and share their own ideas? Is it reasonable for universities to limit academic freedom? If that is what is happening, then our education system is surely heading to the lowest of low.