Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia produced by the efforts of millions of people from all over the world. Founded by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger in 2001, Wikipedia has done nothing but help confused children on their homework and put any dictionary to shame with its comprehendible terminology. Many students hear the backlash of teachers against Wikipedia, but why exactly is that the perceived image? Is it simply because of the access of anyone to edit or write a entry? I believe that Wikipedia is a very reliable source compared to other internet choices.

“The goal of Wikipedia is to ‘distribute a free encyclopedia to every single person on the planet in their own language, and to an astonishing degree (it) is succeeding’. Traditionally, reference works were very expensive, which meant previously that knowledge was restricted to the wealthy, or those with access to well-funded public libraries. Wikipedia liberates that knowledge and provides volumes of online information to anyone with access to a computer, or even a smartphone, and the internet,” states Dr. Jim Purdy, a assistant professor of English/writing studies and director of the University Writing Center at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA.

Wikipedia not only cares about it’s audience, but also wants education to be wide spread to ALL people. Unfortunately, the dream of free education to all was ruined when Wikipedia was banned in China, after Jimmy Wales refused to censor the articles to suit the Chinese government. But, from Wales refusing to censor, it showed how real and true each article truly is. There is no editing, only the real deal from educated writers.