The gift of literacy also gives an individual the chance for freedom. When students are able to read, they develop the ability to follow rules of the road (for example, a STOP sign). But once those students are able to produce a cognitive process, they begin developing their own ideas. Those ideas may include a reason why not to follow a certain rule. It is hard for a government to control a society full of people with rebellious ideas. So to be sure that doesn’t happen as easily, the government will make sure that citizens can read and write easily, “…but development of verbal competency is very much left to the individual” (Ricker 8).

The school has failed in teaching students to think properly because it is unclear as to what thought is. Despite this large flaw being existent in the school, little has been done to change it because of pressures from fashion and the government. One can hope that thought will once again be important enough to teach in the school again. But until everyone comes to understand what thought truly is and its importance, then the art of articulate thought will be lost. Until then, thought is a conspiracy behind the shadows of society.