“I’ve always felt that a person’s intelligence is directly reflected by the number of conflicting points of view he can entertain simultaneously on the same topic.” – Abigail Adams, “Letters of Mrs. Adams: The Wife of John Adams”, p.539

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Like many of her time, and the wisest in our own, Abigail Adams understood that the best of education comes from being self-taught. Formal education in a classroom mostly teaches you route answers, dates, and how to be punctual as you metaphorically clock in and out. As such, formal schooling has it limits. One of these is that we are taught there is usually one right answer and at least in my time there was seldom discussion afforded for other viewpoints. Further, schools, such as these were then, were regarded as off-limits and not suitable for young ladies of the Colonial Period. Abigail and her parents knew better.

To the contrary, a classical liberal arts education requires the reading of good literary and scientific works, while rounding out our mind’s to think thoughts through without falling victim to ignorance and fallacies. A good library and other resources in the environment area often more educational to some than others. In Abigail’s case, she early learned of theology, history, and literature, with contemporary works and those like William Shakespeare whose work lives on as immortal then as it is now.

Today as with yesterday, we should always encourage the best efforts of all females and males. This is the path toward the betterment of society.