Summary In the Read Aloud Handbook Chapter 9 by Jim Trelease (2006), Mr. Trelease discusses the issue of Television and Children. He starts Chapter 9 with a story about a single mother raising two young boys in the heart of Detroit, Michigan. The single mother is Sonya Carson and her youngest son is Mr. Ben Carson known today as the leading pediatric neurosurgeon and current Republican nominee for President of the United States. Mr. Trelease (2006) mentions in his article, how Mrs. Carson made her boys study, and in turn their grades improved; by the time Ben graduated from high school he was “third in his class” (p. 1).
With great detail, it provides an accurate perspective of the education experience one might expect from a university and from a community college. Furthermore, I felt the essay contrasts the old style college experience with modern day community college life in a way that reminds us not every college student has the privilege of being able to afford to attend an expensive 4-year university. When Addison talks about how the college experience Perlstein describes is that of “his own nostalgia,” I also felt that that Perlstein’s experience is no longer indicative of the modern educational experience that students obtain today at the many community colleges (1). I would have to agree with Addison’s statement, “My guess, reading between the lines, is that Mr. Perlstein has never set foot in an American community college”
College is great but education systems shouldn't wait until college to finish teaching the students what they need to be literate Americans within society. Murray creates a good argument for teaching the core essentials in K-12 curriculum. A high school diploma should set a person up to be a productive person in society nothing more, nothing less. College should be a choice but not something that everyone has to obtain to be successful. Granted different people define success
Liz Addison’s essay, “Two Years Better Than Four,” was first published in the New York Times Magazine back in September of 2007. Addison went to two community colleges and majored in biology; earning her degree in 2008. In her essay, she is responding to Rick Perlstein's article “What’s the Matter with College?” in which he claims, “College as America used to understand it is coming to an end” (211). Addison refutes Perlstein’s claims by saying, “My guess, reading between the lines, is that Mr. Perlstein has never set foot in an American community college” (212).
This semester was very insightful. American History is essential to society and the path she is going. The importance of history is revealed in our Hollitz: Thinking through the Past. It portrayed just how important our founding fathers described their journey. The Declaration of Independence paved the way to freedom.
We as a society are manipulated by the idea that a college education will fix all of our problems and allow us to pursue a successful life. In the essay “College In America” by Caroline Bird mentions that a college education is not the best choice for all high school graduates because it leads to the assumption that a college education is the only possible way to establish one’s identity in society. Although college is the staple after graduating high school not all sustain the qualities it takes to succeed in the intellectual work given and some career fields do not have a connecting relationship to a college education reminding us that even though these claims are based in the 1970s it is still relevant in today’s society.
EA #2 College Will Take You There For some people, a college education is not viewed as optional, while for others it is nothing but irrelevant. The idea of spending at least two years to earn a post high school degree, may be viewed as a futile obstacle standing in the way of one’s dreams. It is a testing journey, and an expensive road, but it will pay off.
Gary Gutting and Mark Edmundson the authors of the essays “What is College For?” and “On the Uses of a Liberal Education” respectively expressed their opinions on how college isn’t what it used to be. Gutting said some universities don’t teach what they are supposed to; they make some classes compulsory so students end up taking classes that are unnecessary. In result when students are given these particular courses as they become disinterested and aim for average instead of learning the material. Gutting also points out lack of academic engagement is why people misinterpret the existence of the college.
The Greek Philosopher Aristotle identified “The years between puberty and age twenty-one as the formative time for mind and character.” It was customary for young Greek men to attend a series of lectures that resembled our notion of a college “course”(Delbanco 36). Aristotle is a believer of education and the power it has on the development of the young mind. Likewise, he believes college is a place to establish one’s character. Caroline Bird’s essay, “Where College Fails Us,” definitely does not correlate with the opinion of Aristotle.
The general argument made by author Charles Murray in his article, “Are too many people go to college,” is that the college is not necessary for everyone. More specifically, the Murray argues that students who went to school should have learned the core knowledge they will learn in the college. He writes, “ K-8 are the right years to teach the core knowledge, and the effort should get off to a running start in elementary school” (236). In this passage, Murray is suggesting that start teaching the core knowledge in elementary school until high school is better than to spend money and more time to the college. It is not important to go to college.
“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.
It’s way different than high school in the way that class is way more important and you are actually paying for your classes in college while throughout your whole life before if you went through the public school system, school was free. This little decision can determine what path your life is going to be on. With the Daniel Flanagan story we see that it’s an inspiring story and had the potential to be an effective essay, it lacked in important details. Having the necessary details throughout the essay could have created a bigger impact and made it easier for
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.
