Education

I had read “On the Uses of A Liberal Education” by Mark Edmundson, and believe there are many valuable points that were brought up, but some need discussion. I believe that most of the students attending college today are focused on achieving their degree, not sticking out and standing up for their own opinions. As Edmundson states, students “at their best, [are] decent”. This means that no one’s true potential as coming out anymore. A student today sits in class and learns to become knowledgeable without drawing much attention. Although, I don’t know how much I can believe this is true. Yes, there are many exceptions but from first-hand experience I know that every student goes to college to try to live up to their potential. There are many students who are not passionate about what they are doing and this is what the author could be getting this idea from. If you were a student who had a love for art and was stuck taking business classes, would you try your hardest? I know I wouldn’t. Some students today don’t have a drive because they don’t know what they love and truly want to do. This cannot be broadened to all students saying that none of them try to excel at what they do and don’t have the desire to be on top anymore. Kids are in college because they want to succeed and I believe what the author is saying is contradicting this. I don’t think he realizes some pressures put on students to do well and be right, which could be the cause of them not saying anything in class (there is a fear of being wrong).

I am a generally shy person, especially in groups of people. When I’m in a lecture class, I work better if I sit and observe, that’s what I’m good at doing and that is what I like. There are many people that like to ask questions and talk about experiences. Those are what we called extroverts. This article is saying that because I don’t participate in class and voice my opinions, I’m wrong? That is incorrect. I have opinions and I try my best to succeed, you are just more likely to see it from someone else who likes sharing and talking in front of hundreds of people. Just because I don’t actively tell people what I’m thinking doesn’t mean I am “decent”. I think the author of this article is looking at the way people act and behave as a way to test their passion and I believe he got the wrong impression.

I really enjoyed the second reading, “In the Hands of the Restless Poor” by Earl Shorris. When Shorris started his Clement Course in the humanities, he looked at a social issue around him which was poverty. He took that issue and advice from others and wanted to change it so that even the poor would have a chance for an education. By creating this course and bringing the students who had qualified to museums, feeding them, paying for their travel and watching their kids if needed, he promoted desire to learn and showed that benefits came for earning an education. Shorris found a sense of purpose through teaching these students because in the end, by reaching out to those in need and giving them an opportunity for them to grow and learn, he gave others a chance to become active citizens. His purpose was contagious and gave his students purpose where in the end he said “the first sixteen Clemente Course graduates were attending colleges…the other graduates were attending a community college or working full time. Except for one: she had been fired from her job in a fast-food restaurant for trying to start a union.” Not only did he inspire people to go on with learning and education but he also inspired them to challenge the world around them and become activists themselves.

I think this type of action by Earl Shorris is very admirable. It opened my eyes up to see that anyone who wants to have an education can succeed; some people just don’t have enough resources. My high school had a program where they would bus city school kids in everyday just to get an education at my school. I never really understood why they did this but now I do. City schools don’t have a very good reputation or education. By bussing them to my high school, they were giving these kids the chance to escape the home and violence issues they are surrounded with and allowing them the opportunity to get a better education in a school that costed no money to them. This gave them an optimistic view to their future and helped them want to go on to receive further education. This is what Earl Shorris was trying to do. He was trying to take those who were less fortunate and give them the tools and resources they needed as well as knowledge to succeed. And they did.