When Knowledge is Power In his proposal, Benjamin Franklin writes that education leads to happiness. What would Douglass say about that idea? How do his own life experiences confirm or disprove the idea? Franklin says that, throughout history, governments have established schools to teach the next generation of public officials. What would Douglass say about that purpose? In what ways does Franklin's claim apply to the life of Frederick Douglass? A Different Angle Describe your own perspective on education. What is school like for you? What value does it hold? Where did your beliefs and attitudes about school begin, and how have they changed or developed?