For centuries, philosophers have attempted to piece together theories as to the purpose of schools and of education, in addition to how schools should be run, what should be taught, and how students and teachers should interact with each other. Each philosopher comes up with a slightly altered idea that comes from their own perspective of what society needs at the time that they were alive. Robert Hutchins, in 1952, wrote about his theory of the importance of liberal education. Around 40 years later, Alexander Neill wrote about his school, commonly referred to as the Free Schools, and his student-centered philosophy of education. Using the ideas of these philosophers, in addition to knowledge of the current society and time period, this essay …show more content…
Hutchins and Neill each present some of these ideas in their own philosophies. Hutchins, in The Great Conversation, says that “The aim of liberal education is human excellence” (Hutchins 3). His idea was that liberal education, or the study of liberal arts, is essential and unavoidable as humans engage in the liberal arts on a regular basis. “The liberal artist learns to read, write, speak, listen, understand, and think…reckon, measure…predict, produce, and exchange” (Hutchins 4). These are abilities that occur in everyday life in today’s society and therefore, they should be represented in schools. It is important for an individual to be able to function in the society they come from so that when they are no longer in school, they do not need to rely on the help of others. Therefore, if society is represented in the schools, an individual can be much more equipped to function. By becoming a liberal artist, a person will be a proper citizen who is “at home in the world of ideas and in the world of practical affairs” (Hutchins 4). Hutchins’s liberal education philosophy will contribute to the intellectual advancement of an individual and prepare them for …show more content…
They need to allow for the students to engage with the material they are learning instead of just having the student sit and listen to lectures. Neill brings up this point and suggests that “a school that makes active children sit at desks studying mostly useless subjects is a bad school” (Neill 8). Students, specifically those of a younger age, need to be active and participate in activities that bring a sense of fun to school. Additionally, play is crucial to a child’s learning and development, especially in an age where children are aware of today’s issues through the use of social media. This means that there should be allotted time where students can enjoy themselves and be with friends. By having a specific time set aside for play and for exercise, students “are able to face the realities of life without any unconscious longing for the play of childhood” (Neill 41). They are also able to be more focused and more productive when they go back to class. In order to bring the students closer to the aims of education, schools must allow both for interactivity during class-time and for play and exercise during free-time (recess with playgrounds and sports fields, for example). Through a combination of the ideals of Robert Hutchins and Alexander Neill, a newer, updated philosophy of education can be created that may fit more closely with the problems and unique attributes of society
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Ignorance Vs. Reason in the War on Education Kareem Abdul-Jabber writes an article explaining the attack on education and the serious problems in the classroom involving teachers and students. Abdul-Jabbar describes how students only hold on to one perspective; students should explore different perspectives on topics, and question education’s opinions on practical matters. Republicans, Democrats, and non-partisan discuss this controversy over education.
In conclusion, John Gatto’s essay “Against School” is highly against the current educational system in the US and also in many other places that follow the same format that the US has acquired from Prussian culture. Modern schooling is hurting children more than helping them by causing them to fight each other for social standing. It is a brainwash for children and we must teach them to be adventurous, think outside the box, be independent, and develop an inner life so that they will never be bored, even in
In the “Against Schools” article, author John Gatto describes the modern day schooling system and its flaws. He uses several rhetorical strategies in trying to prove his point. He successfully uses all three types of rhetoric in writing this article, which includes ethos, pathos, and logos. He establishes these strategies very early, and often throughout the article. He believes one issues with today’s schooling system is boredom, and that there is a distinct difference between what it means to be educated and schooled.
Ungar’s essay, Charles Murray discusses why a liberal arts degree is unnecessary in his essay, “Are Too Many People Going to College?”. Murray believes that the basics of a liberal education are indeed important, but that students should be provided the basics of liberal arts in elementary and middle school (Murray 223). In this essay, Murray cites E.D. Hirsch Jr.’s book Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know.” Hirsch Jr. and Murray believe that there is a “body of core knowledge” that all students should have, and that “this core knowledge is an important part of the glue that holds the culture together” but that this core knowledge should be taught in grades K-8 (Murray 224). Murray discusses how young children are much better at memorizing facts than adults are, to support his position that kids should be memorizing this core knowledge at a younger age (Murray 224).
In David Foster Wallace’s “ Kenyon Commencement Speech,” he discusses the importance of liberal arts education in “teaching you how to think” (Wallace, 199). He mentions how education is beyond the knowledge we learn, but about simple awareness will impact the choices we make for better or worse. The real value of education cannot be found in a career (you may or may not be fired from), but it can be found in the way you view things through a different perspective and by considering how other factors can contribute to everyday life. This new approach in thinking will allow us to appreciate our lives and overcome our inner “default setting” towards the world (Wallace, 199). I agree with Wallace’s argument because the purpose of higher education should not be about having career-specific skills and obtaining a degree, but about intellectual and personal growth will help us survive in the real world.
Liberal arts education equips students to understand
Martha Nussbaum has experiences in writing about education related topics such as liberal education, already publishing a book called „Cultivating Humanity”. However her inspiration to write her book entitled “Not for Profit: Why Democracy Needs the Humanities” came from a person of the Spencer Foundation named Mike McPherson but also because of the fact that she was resident fellow at the foundation. In addition to this, her association with the Cambridge school in Weston, Massachusetts helped her by giving her optimism in what type of education she wanted to defend in her book. ( xii )
Summary In chapter three “In the defense of a Liberal Education” author Fareed Zakaria opens up what he believes to be “central virtue of liberal education”(72). He writes that it teaches one how to think critically and clearly. He explains that thinking is the stronger advantage one could have in writing well. Before writing it helps first people to think in a critical sense so work should be using simple language in a well comprehendible way.
Ever wanted to throw down that textbook and read something enjoyable for once? Well, go ahead! Chunk that dull textbook out a window and pick up a comic; it will be more beneficial to your education than you think. The skills and values that liberally educated people should posses can vary from different views, yet the list of ten qualities that William Cronon created in his article, “’Only Connect…’ The Goals of a Liberal Education”(1998), is an inspirational goal for the liberally educated. Cronon’s list of qualities includes solving problems and puzzles, empowering others, and understanding how to get stuff done in the world.
President Lyndon B. Johnson once said, “The Great Society rests on abundance and liberty for all,” in his speech that changed American’s views on society and the outcomes that can occur (“Great Society”).With the death of President Kennedy in November of 1963, it was Johnson’s duty to follow the path of Kennedy’s vision of making America and its future great for everyone. President Johnson named his vision and passion for the future of America that he strived to lead the Great Society(“Great Society”). Johnson’s speech on May 22, 1964 was played out for America and its people to educate the importance to supply our society with wealth, wisdom, and experience to successfully build a country where the struggled labor becomes a value for the
What is school really trying to do with our lives? The article “Against School” by John Taylor Gatto is an article that talks about the problem of schools and how the goals are not what they say they are. First. the author talks about how the school system creates boredom and what could be done to fix it. He then talks about how school is not needed in its required class times, what the schools say the goals are for the students, and where our school system originated from.
America’s educational institutions continue to evolve in order to provide “the one best system” that will benefit students in their present and future educational endeavors. The One Best System written by David B. Tyack, interprets the challenges and criticisms of America’s beginning formal education institutions as well as discusses how the solutions were used to perpetuate existing power structures and social classes to shape education entirely. As the idea of educating America’s children began to spread, schools were viewed as a community due to the tightly knit groups that were formed among individuals. Community members believed that educational institutions were an opportunity for social amusement as they provided social contact with
There has been a multitude of famous individuals that have changed the course of human history over the years. With their work being the source of inspiration of many to simply having a likeable, repeatable demeanor, there is no doubt that to be regarded in that special collective of individuals. One of the most famous civil rights leader that advocated for 13 years, Martin Luther King Jr., discertation called, “The Purpose of Education,” that brings awareness to the importance of education and its overall relevance in tepid year of 1947. Dr. King brings clarity to his opinion in the beginning of his paragraph stating, “It seems to me that education has a two-fold function to perform in the life of man and in society: the one is utility and
Book Review John Dewey Democracy and Education Democracy and Education was published by John Dewey in 1916. The original title of the book was to be Introduction to the Philosophy of Education but was changed due to the political pressure of the World War. The original title was however retained as the subtitle of the book. The book was written to shed light on the fundamental educational, socio political consequences of the world war, civil war, industrialization, migration etc. Born in 1859 in a largely agrarian American society, Dewey saw the massive changes that American society.
Education can be explained as the process of acquiring knowledge, skills, values, beliefs and habits, and is the most valuable resource that one could have in life as, firstly, education facilitates learning and critical thinking, secondly, it allows for dreams of the future in terms of success to become a reality and lastly, it prevents the children of today from risking their future due to the influence of environmental hazards (Brooks, 2006). After studying the points discussed, it can be said that education plays an important role in the development of each and every human being and is not on categorized under scholarly education but rather any experience that allows an individual to broaden his/her knowledge. Amy Gutmann, an American political theorist proposed a theory surrounded around the democratic state of education requiring parents and states - to surrender some educational authority to professional education staffs’, also indicating that the children of today do not just benefit from freedom of choice, or identification with and participation in the positive aspects of their family and political aspects of the society. Amy’s theory is based on the characterisation of the three models of educational control namely Locke’s Theory of Parental control,