In William Cronon’s essay “Only Connect” he poses the question to his audience on trying to deduce the concept of liberal education. Cronon makes it clear within his essay that a liberal education goes beyond earning a degree and fulfilling credit hours; to him there's something more deeper in a liberal education that helps shape an individual’s life. He discusses some historical background information on where liberal education came from by citing how the word “liberal” developed throughout time and he even mentions how the liberal arts curriculum developed. Throughout, the majority of the essay Cronon makes a valid argument on what the purpose of a liberal education does for individuals pursuing college. In his opinion, he believes a liberal
People go to college to get a good paying job, have job security, and get a degree. Well at least that’s what it should be about. That’s what Charles Murray believes in his essay “Are Too Many People Going to College.” Murray counters the argument of Sanford Ungar who believes colleges should have a more liberal approach towards its classes and have students actually learn a broad range of real life skills instead of just going into a career just because it pays well. In Ungar’s essay he explains the misperception that Americans have on obtaining a liberal-arts degree and how they believe it doesn’t translate well to the real world.
As stated before, Miller was once a project director for the Pew-sponsored National Forum on college level learning from 2002-2004, and a Curry School of Education professor at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. She has experience in this area, as well as research from which conducted for a national education forum. In this work, Miller provides outside sources to represent families who do not have parents who attended college to compare to her own experiences, as well as the data she provides. Miller also uses: charts produced by Tom Mortenson, data released by Educational Testing Service (ETS), and National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), all credible sources. This essay appeals strongly to ethos.
As we read “A Lifetime of Student Debt? Not Likely” we learn that the title is correct if student loans are used wisely. Many don’t pay attention to the debt they are building. Whether it is important for them to go to a certain school, or to always be partying, students will quickly use all the money they have. For some reason, when they find out how much they owe, they are shocked.
She points out that college is only a way to turn out “left wing thinking liberals” and that the actual education is an “increasingly worthless product.” Universities are taking into consideration that the public will pay almost anything to “invest in their future.” Coulter compares college to a “cartel that fixes prices” according to her theory that “education is an industry.” She concludes by attributing Obama’s proposal to be only a ploy to instill leftist ideals into young naive
In the article “Two Years are Better than Four,” Liz Addison argues that community college is better than four year universities, such as the one Rick Perlstein attended. Where Perlstein reminisces about his days in college and claims that the greatness of American colleges is gone. Addison makes it apparent to the reader that she not only disagrees with Perlstein, but makes remarks suggesting that she believes that Perlstein’s college days were less for studying and more for partying and enjoying the fact that he went to a fancy private college. Addison continues by detailing some of the opportunities for people that attend community college such as being affordable, a place for the student to begin, and possibly a better match for students’ lives. She claims that this is the way college is intended to be and by no means is college as we knew it coming to an end.
Throughout the book “Defense of Liberal Education” by Fareed Zakaria in his argues about Economic and College Education. They are arguments that he has made based on Education in the United State and what would be the reason that people such as parents, Politicians, and educators have to work and being able to protect the liberal Art Educations. The issues that he mentions is School emphasis of marketable skills. Fareed Zakarian argues that there is no more demand skill than having the ability to be able to have communicating. Having the chance to learn all of the development and being able to support by the “Liberal Education”.
The article “Higher Education Has Always Been a Mess” written by Sol Gittleman talks about the roller coaster of a ride that Higher Education has gone on. He starts off saying that in the mid-20th century, academia became idolized, embodying everything great about America while in good times, and yet was still demonized, and embodying everything wrong while times were bad (we still see this today). Today academia is seen as a crazy mixture of both, which in really it is. He then goes on telling the story of how Higher Education came to be in America. After WWII we enjoyed a 30 year golden age, America is still the world leader but it has been lost in the noise, culture, politics and price.
This in turn makes colleges seem more like business organizations rather than education systems. Who is to blame? In the essays ‘’Grade Inflation Gone Wild’’ by Stuart Rojstaczer and ‘’Doesn’t Anybody Get a C anymore’’ by Phil Primack, this issue is discussed further with presentation of different dynamics in this indisputable issue.
Over the years, the loss of credibility in the once widely propagated benefits of a higher education degree has become heavily criticized by avid education reform advocates. Political writer, social critic, and essayist, Barbara Ehrenreich, in her satirical essay, "College Students, Welcome to a Lifetime of Debt!", ironically exposes the consequences of the ever-increasing cost of education on post-secondary students ' societal role as debtors. Ehrenreich’s purpose to provoke her audience, mainly comprised of college students and their parents, into questioning the condescendence and despicable practices of post-secondary institutions is achieved through the employment of a sarcastic and humorous tone. By means of an appeal to pathos, the author clearly communicates all of her points and intentions, as well as brings out the eye-opening absurdity in this ever so trivialized situation. Nevertheless, the lack of supporting statistical evidence, alongside the overuse of commonsense and fallacious arguments, undercuts the essay 's effectiveness and the credibility of Ehrenreich 's arguments.
“3 Reasons College Still Matters” by Andrew Delbanco 3) “Surely, every American college ought to defend this waning possibility, whatever we call it. And an American college is only true to itself when it opens its doors to all - the rich, the middle, and the poor - who have the capacity to embrace the precious chance to think and reflect before life engulfs them. If we are all serious about democracy, that means everyone.” 4) In this part of the writing Andrew Delbanco tries to persuade his audience by using the pattern of logic that agrees with the overall argument but also considers another striking point of view to strengthen the argument (While these arguments are convincing, they must also consider…).
Is college still important and relevant? The question is answered and confirmed when Liz Addison, author of “Two Years Are Better than Four”, wrote a counter argument in order to disprove the opposing views of Rick Perlstein, the author of, “What’s the Matter with College”. The topic that is being brought to light is the subject of whether or not college still matters. Perlstein that college is no longer what it used to be. It was after reading Perlstein’s article that Addison masterfully wrote her counter argument which successfully contradicted the opinionated, inaccurate views of Rick Perlstein.
Going to college for many students is just a normal part of life. It is what will enable them to get an education that eventually will lead to get a well-paid job and the resources and the status to live a comfortable life. But for college professor, Andrew Delbanco, the American college has a higher purpose. In the article “College at Risk”, Delbanco states that colleges should be promoting critical thinking among students, through knowledge of the past and the interaction with each other; as well as, help them discover their talents and passions and figure out what they want to do in life. This type of education is called liberal arts and for Delbanco, it represents the ideal education.
In Charles Murray’s essay “Are Too Many People Going to College,” he believes that the concept of college has changed over the years. According to him, a four-year college is no longer as necessary as it was when it was first created because most jobs requires more on job training. He also adds to his reasoning by mentioning that because of the advancement of internet, physical libraries and the physical proximity of student and teachers is less important. Because of the changes he noticed he believes that people should go to college but not for liberal education. He makes the claim that the basic core knowledge of liberal education should be learned in elementary and middle school and that only people with high academic abilities should be encouraged to go to college.
Colleges are doing their best to teach students right? Sadly that is not the case and its not entirely colleges fault, the fault also rests on the schools the student went to. Schools are adapting to a style of education that is in turn
