Analysis Of John Stewart Mill's Essay On Liberty

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Liberty is the foundation that our nation is built upon. In his essay, On Liberty, John Stewart Mill addresses the issue of liberty, and more specifically, the principles relating to it. As a student myself, I have bear witness to the controversial laws that require mandatory school attendance. As a Connecticut resident, our schools were required to be in session for no less than 181 days; students were not allowed to miss more than 10 sessions of each of their classes. Letters are sent home warning parents of the serious repercussions that would not only be applied to their child, but to the parents themselves. This law, when examined from Mill’s viewpoints, is acceptable; and although it pains me to say it, I agree with this position.
Education is the basis of everything that comprises a well-functioning society; without the education of the masses, it would fall apart. Mill’s central ideology in his essay is utility; he argues that everything that imposes on a person’s liberties has to be done for the reason of the advancement of man (11). The primary purpose for laws and regulations issued by the government is to preserve the three fundamental …show more content…

Since the state cannot wake-up every student for school, the state put’s the legal guardians in charge of getting their responsibility to school for at least the minimum number of days. Which is why Mill believes that when they fail to do so, they are bringing harm onto another person, and effectively allow their liberties to be retracted by the government. Although it involves government interference, children are unable to form educated decisions, and in order for man to advance, and for society to live up to the majority’s standards, mandatory school attendance policies are a necessary evil that we all must abide