The Shock Of Education: How College Corrupts By Alfred Lubrano

384 Words2 Pages

For this piece of writing entitled, “The Shock of Education: How College Corrupts”, journalist and commentator Alfred Lubrano focuses in on the areas of working-class and middle-class families. Lubrano uses real-life examples and noticeable characteristics to further explain the differences between the two social groups. Lubrano attempts to engage U.S. high school graduates and newly enrolled college students as the audience of readers. After gathering information from the text, Alfred Lubrano is depicted as a well-educated individual. Alfred Lubrano has shifted between two worlds: living in a working-class environment and attending an elite school. According to Lubrano’s statement, “When Columbia plucked me out of working-class Brooklyn, I was sure they had made a mistake, and I …show more content…

As Lubrano discusses education, middle-class parents teach their children good habits that lead to success in later life. Well-to-do parents make the conscious effort to further develop their children’s skills through close supervision, organized activities, and navigate independently in a fast-paced world. On the other hand, working-class families emphasize obedience and discourage their children from asking questions both at home and in school. According to Lubrano’s work, “If you’re from the middle class, you do not feel out of place preparing for college. Parents and peers help groom you, encourage you and delight in your progress.” (535). Children from working-class homes are largely unexposed to new thoughts and ideas. Blue-collar children receive less attention and respect in school which accounts for their substandard performance. (534-35). These statements demonstrate how children of middle-class parents have meaningful lives with great milestones ahead, while children of the working-class must maintain their independence in order to