The Long Haul describes the life and academic history of Myles Horton, a labor advocate, the main founder of the Highlander school and one of the first practitioners of what would afterward be called popular and accepted education. At Highlander school, certain principles of democratic and self-governing education were used. Students were the authorities in the classroom while teachers were just facilitators. Students and teachers worked closely together and the main center of attention of education was teaching collectively, and bargaining action for social transformation to take part in key roles in the labor movements and societies as well as civil rights movement. Horton was the general overseer of these educational policies and principles. His philosophy was mainly on social change for the social welfare of all people irrespective of social or educational background. He was an outstanding socialist.

Horton advocated for a method of teaching that only allowed student-instructor interaction one on one, and they relied mainly on courses offered through printed study guides. With increased levels of technology, there has been a dramatic change in how lessons are taught. Distance courses offered online does not allow one on one interaction with teachers, and only allows interaction through the internet.

His philosophy did not advocate for exams in schools. His objectives were clear that only the most pressing issues and problems affecting students and the society received first consideration. Highlander school did not advocate for exams and student evaluation. This system sounds outdated because exams encourage competition and hard work among learners and teachers are able to evaluate the ability of students. Exams are an efficient way of assessing students and show that a student has gained a certain knowledge and skill.

Myles Horton believed that education was meant to bring equality among all people irrespective of race or social class. Horton remained an activist and campaigner who fought for the rights of the poor after seeing his parents suffer for long as casual laborers. Horton learned that schooling was meant to help someone do something for others. For me, social equality is only possible through education and that only the educated are respected in the current society. In essence, the society respects people who are educated to a certain level and others disregarded. For instance, in my community the perception is that only the learned people should relate and be seen together. In most instances, people who come from different educational levels are viewed as mismatched in their relationship.

Horton’s philosophy of education was mainly to train people on how to use power and privilege to form trade unions and cooperatives, and to empower people realize and accomplish their legal rights. He could see the poor being oppressed and exploited by the economic, social and political systems. He felt the need for workers and the poor people to rise and fight for their rights. He began learning about employee cooperatives, local workers unions and familiarized with other workers blue-collar organizations. In the recent world, education and social change are two different aspects. Basic education is necessary putting into consideration the current job market which requires people to possess first academic qualifications. Therefore, social education and involvement in workers unions should come after basic education. Not everyone can be a socialist. Only interested parties should be allowed to attend trade union classes as part time or after basic education.

After returning to US, he met his friends and together founded the Highlander school along the Hills of Tennessee. He wanted to apply what he had learned from his formal education and experiences. His philosophy was to partner with religious bodies towards achieving his vision. He called for churches and socialist Christians to unite with worker’s unions to achieve the fundamental reforms and developments. In my perspective, Churches and other religious organizations should not be involved in workers unions. Religion should be separated from workers unions, and demonstrations for this violate the law of God where people are supposed to focus on worshipping God. Today, there have been many changes taking place in the economic structures and the economy of the world changes with the way companies do business. Religious teachers should only focus on teaching the word and how to benefit from the limited success opportunities.

In his philosophy and the curriculum of his school, he was determined to help the oppressed people find ways and means of solving their own issues peacefully. Horton observed that the conflict was inevitable, and the only thing was to use conflict creatively to drive people away from the discrimination of the status quo and work towards achieving better economic, political, moral and social positions. Current education systems need some reforms so as to empower people socially. For instance, forums can be created where parties involved: parents, students and teachers can propose ways of changing the system and curriculum and vote on the ideas of others so as to select the best. In this case, all people are represented socially instead of introducing lessons on labor unions without consultations. I believe that this enhances peaceful democracy.

In conclusion, it is right to say that both my philosophy which is more accommodative and adaptive and Horton’s philosophy which remained more transformational are both pioneered towards transforming the need of learners, and their communities. The issue of social class has oppressed the poor in the society. By including his progressive educational theories to a certain extent in the school curricula may help avert prejudice and discrimination by changing social, economic and political systems.

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