Émile; Or, Concerning Education; Extracts

"Émile; Or, Concerning Education" by Jean-Jacques Rousseau is an influential piece that examines the best ways to raise and teach children. The story follows the education of a boy named Émile, highlighting how important it is for kids to learn by seeing and doing things instead of just memorizing facts. This book points out problems with how kids were taught back then, suggesting they were treated like robots instead of individuals with feelings. Rousseau makes a case for starting education from birth, letting kids grow naturally based on what they can do, what they want, and what they experience. He criticizes strict and controlling ways of raising kids, arguing that it’s better to support a child’s natural talents and dreams instead of trying to hold them back.