Forrest Gump Education

Forrest Gump may not be a smart boy, but his momma isn't going to let that get in the way of his education. Thanks to her intervention—i.e., having sex with the school principal—Forrest gets to attend regular school, which eventually leads to a university scholarship. But, we have to ask: what does that end up getting him? For Mrs. Gump, education is the key to living a normal life. For Forrest, it's nothing but a confusing round of classes, bullies, and football. (Okay, tbh, that sounds a lot like our experience in high school.) But the point is: Forrest Gump thinks that everyone deserves an education. Just like that box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get.

Questions About Education

1. Why do you think Mrs. Gump cares so much that her son gets to go to a regular public school?
2. Why does Jenny get kicked out of college, and how does that foreshadow what will happen to her during the next few years? How would you characterize the difference between Forrest's and Jenny's attitudes toward education?
3. Do we ever see evidence of Forrest putting his college education to good use? If so, when or where? If not, do you think it was worthwhile for him to go to college at all?

Chew on This

Forrest Gump shows us that no matter who you are, you can always better yourself with education.

In Forrest Gump, we learn that education is about working with what you've already got.