I think James Baldwin means that teachers are a big influence on society. When kids come from different families, different parts, different social classes, they tend to have false views, false hope, or false information. For instance, if a lower class student has parents that tell them they are never going to make it out of the lower class because their background and people before them didn’t make it, they are going to believe that they won’t be able to make it out of there as well. This wouldn’t be a problem if a teacher were to teach the student about the history of the other social classes and what they did to get there, and how any class can become a higher class. By doing this the student who was told he or she can’t be more than what they are, can strive for a better future. I also think that Baldwin is making sure it is understood that this isn’t a type of communism, it is just basic knowledge and history that shouldn’t be kept from anyone no matter what race, ethnicity, or social class they are. When he states that the world is larger I think he means that you are never limited to whatever is being told to you in the situation you’re in. For instance if in America you are in a place where they restrict your ability to do anything due to discriminatory reasons, then the world is large enough for you to go somewhere you are appreciated and don’t have to take shit from anyone who believes that are superior. In school I think it’s good to learn about different opportunities, and different careers. It took me so long to figure it what career I wanted to pursue, in which I could’ve taken some courses that would’ve helped me in doing so. Although, since we were never taught about the different careers, I would always tell myself I sucked at drawing so I wouldn’t be able to pursue architecture. Now that I am pursuing it, turns out it’s more about measuring and envisioning then drawing, and I am confident in my work.
