The Library of Congress and the Importance of Education

Education is what drives our world. Without it, where would we be? For starters, there would be no medium for this blog post. If the brilliant minds of this planet were not granted the opportunity to pursue an education, we wouldn’t be nearly as progressed in technology, literature, or civil rights as we are today. One of the cornerstone elements of the Library of Congress is it’s strong focus on education as a path to success. As an education policy minor, I am deeply concentrated on the idea that education is what sets people free and is what gives them the opportunity to live a prosperous life.To reiterate the importance of this idea, engraved above one of the windows in the Library of Congress is the phrase, “The foundation of every state is the education of its youth.” I find this to be incredibly empowering and accurate in our world. It applies also to the world of Thomas Jefferson, whom the library built it’s content around. As well as this inspiring quotation, there are many more intriguing aspects of this historical and architectural masterpiece. Along the staircase in the front of the building are 10 children’s portraits engraved into the marble, each one symbolizing a career path of the time of creation. For example, one child was a fisherman and another a farmer. Each one was a representation of the importance of a child pursuing their dreams and passions and giving back to the community and world from which they came. Also, the architecture was demographically diverse, including statues and portraits of both genders and multiple cultures. The Library of Congress was a complete surprise for me as far as a study tour that aligned with my passions and values. I now feel more deeply connected to the history behind its design as well as the founder father, Thomas Jefferson, who focused so sincerely on the education of youth and the prosperous futures they all held.