Norman Rockwell and The Spirit of Education

Norman Rockwell’s painting “The Spirit of Education” depicts a smiling white woman behind a blonde boy. The woman is holding a sash across his chest with the words: THE SPIRIT OF EDUCATION. The woman sits behind the boy and next to them is a chest, topped with an open box; she seems to be dressing him. He is clad in a toga, sandals, and a laurel crown. A torch lies lazily in one hand and a large book is held in the other. The boy’s brow is furrowed and he wears a very displeased look on his face.

What is Norman Rockwell saying about education? Why the disgruntled boy or the nearly synthetic smile on the woman who seems to glorify him?

The way I see it is the woman is like the government and teachers and school officials who want to glorify education. They do not see that the children/students are nonetheless unreceptive and unappreciative. Students do not like to be made to look like they care. The students’ apathetic attitude toward education mocks people who work hard on making it possible. She dresses him in a white garment to represent innocence. The torch is for liberty. The thick book shows knowledge and dedication. Rockwell tells us the spirit of education is made to look pure and innocent, having the qualities of wisdom, freedom and goodness, but in reality it is flawed and discontented. The government dresses up the spirit of education to look better than it is so that they may receive approval of the public and the respect of other countries.


I did a little research on Norman Rockwell's paintings. This is my favorite of his paintings. It's called Doctor and the Doll. (Isn't Google Images wonderful?)