Lord Cornwallis argues in the movie "The Patriot" that British officers should lead and, if necessary, restrain their men, without facing inappropriate hostility from the American militia. Colonel Martin refutes this by logically connecting officers to the behavior of their soldiers and threatening to shoot officers if civilians are attacked. Cornwallis believes that only certain civilized men should hold leadership positions as officers and be granted a higher status. These gentlemen-officers were typically chosen from the ruling elites, with landowners and titled men receiving additional rewards for their service. Education played a crucial role in distinguishing these officers as gentlemen.
However, the lack of leadership in modern society raises concerns about our education system. The author argues that we no longer educate citizens to be leaders, but rather followers. This should, however, surprise no one. After all, our public education system is based on the so-called Prussian education system. The Prussians, after being defeated by Napoleon, had come up with a “new” system of education. In a nutshell, the Prussian education system was designed to keep the ruling elites in power, while encouraging the masses to be loyal to the government. This was accomplished through two primary mechanisms. First, they made schooling mandatory; all children were required to attend school. Second, they simplified the education; they left out some things that had up to that point been regarded as essential to a proper education and instead emphasized careers and service to the state.
Simply put, the Prussian system aimed to maintain the ruling elites' power and promote loyalty to the government. While the ruling elites continued to provide their children with classical based liberal arts education, the majority received a different education that hindered their development as leaders.
The classical liberal arts education, rooted in the Trivium of grammar, logic, and rhetoric, fosters self-reliance and prepares individuals for self-government. However, only a few schools today teach the Trivium properly, with elite private schools often prioritizing this education. Most schools, including public schools, do not emphasize the Trivium, and national initiatives like the Common Core further distance us from it.
Fortunately, there is a growing number of schools dedicated to providing a proper classical liberal arts education, aiming to educate citizens capable of self-government. Returning to "The Patriot," Colonel Martin, despite being underestimated, demonstrated knowledge, logic, and persuasive skills that surpassed Cornwallis' expectations.
