The Value of Education

The entirety of the book's action, the development and choices of its characters, and its secondary themes are all built upon this primary theme, a commentary on the importance of education. Ida and the other schoolchildren, their parents (with the exception of Mr. Blixer), most of the other secondary characters (in particular Miss Fletcher, the first teacher) all do what they do in the way they do it because of their belief in the importance of learning. It's interesting to note, however, that there is little if any discussion of why education is important - little direct discussion, that is. Ida never says why she wants so desperately to both learn and teach, her parents never discuss why they support her in her drive to do so, and the same can be said of the other students and their parents. A clue, however, can be...