James Gitlin Analysis

Mr. Ungar, President of a liberal arts college, most clearly devised the essay The New Liberal Arts to show that liberal arts is a competitive education compared to any other degree. Ungar has a high standards for liberal arts and is driven to spread the word on various common misperceptions of liberal arts today. Ungar strongly believes that people underestimate the resources, and general future lifestyle that liberal arts provides. Personally, I disagree with his opinions especially with him being a Liberal Arts College President. I think that his opinions on the misperceptions are biased, just a ploy to get people to join the liberal arts education.

Johnny Tremain,” by Esther Forbes is a book about a boy that lived before and during the Revolutionary War. In this book, Johnny Tremain experienced many things as a boy, apprentice, a silversmith, a messenger, and a revolutionary. While Johnny was getting older and time past by, Johnny experienced love, changing, and betrayal in many ways. Johnny changes during the story, as well as experience love and betrayal right in front of him. Although Johnny went through many hardships, he was still able to overcome the obstacles that came to him. After reading “Johnny Tremain,” Johnny never gave up, and people should never give up just because there is a barrier ahead of us. “Johnny Tremain” has many historical figures that allow the reader to know

While the term liberal education is heard from the most prestigious university to an inner city community college, the phrase itself has a hazy definition at best. While educators across America struggle with the definition of the phrase, William Cronon uses purpose, structure, and appeals in his essay "Only Connect: The Goals of Liberal education," to define a liberally educated being and the characteristics that such an education should impart. Cronon capitalizes on inductive structuring to lead the reader along, gently building each new statement upon a foundation of previous ideas. This effectively leads the reader to a strange

James Madison warned the young American nation of factions at its conception, describing groups of individuals perpetually discontent with the status quo. Such groups would find compromise impossible, isolating themselves in the vast, untamed wilderness of the young country. Madison’s prognosis, however, offered the slim positive that the nation was large enough to contain the factions without conflict because so long as they remained in the minority, they posed no threat in a democracy. However, Daniel J. Boorstin’s evaluation of the nation’s health leans towards illness, as he correctly argues that while “disagreement is the lifeblood of a democracy, dissension is its cancer.” Democracy functions through disagreeing opinions coalescing to

To discuss the value of liberal education, there should be a mutual understanding that investing in college means to invest in oneself. Furthermore, while some consider this investment to be a critical stepping stone to success, others dismiss it, explaining that school simply cannot prepare someone for the “real world.” Sanford J. Ungar and Robert Reich explore both of these subjective values in their essays “The New Liberal Arts” and “College is a Ludicrous Waste of Money.” Ungar, the president of Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland, discusses why a liberal education should be sought after; he does so by introducing common misconceptions about liberal arts and, using argumentative persuasion, proves their insignificance. On the other hand, Reich, the former secretary of labor, argues against the conventional belief of college being the only road to financial wellbeing; rather, he explains why a two-year education may better accommodate many college students, especially those in need of immediate work or those that simply cannot afford a four-year education. In all, although both Reich and Ungar generally discuss liberal education, their perspectives differ when it comes to its practicality in the current economy. Also, to express their different views about liberal arts, the authors use contrasting tones to present their ideas to different intended audiences.

In the essay “The Day the Purpose of College Changed,” Dan Berrett continuously insists how higher education has shifted from the fixation on liberal education to business and economics and utilizing other critic’s opinions on the ever growing career-based education. During the time of “economic ruin” (Berrett 64), Ronald Reagan suggested that “certain intellectual luxuries” (Berrett 65) could be cut from the budget due to his belief that the sole purpose of college should prepare students for jobs and the real world, rather than just sheer amusement (Berrett 65). Berrett as well acknowledged the views of liberals, such as Thomas Jefferson, who believed that liberal education would “strengthen democracy” (Berrett 66) while adhering to the opinion

In, “Liberal Arts for a New Millenium,” by Joyce Baldwin explains the issues presented in education prior to the G.I. Bill of 1944. Prior to 1944, degrees were sought out only by the elite and those who were privileged.” She also shares the evolution of degrees and changes in the selection of the degree people obtained. The G.I. Bill made college education accessible and it helped reshape the colleges and university. The author shared that 65 percent of high school graduates attend college and thirty years ago, half of all the baccalaureate degrees were awarded in liberal arts including science. Today, nearly 60 percent of degrees are in pre-professional or technical field. In the

He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale College, and during his time there he was in various political organizations. He also received a degree in government at Harvard University. He wrote this essay to convince the American people that a more general education such as liberal arts has more productive outcomes. He is trying to reach the American population, so that they can change the educational system. He tries to connect to them by giving examples such as Mark Zuckerberg’s success through liberal arts and statistics on countries with a liberal arts education versus those with a skill-based education.

Before John Carlin was Governor Carlin, he was a small town boy, being raised on a dairy farm in Smolan, Kansas. From a young age, he was working seven days a week in the barns. During an interview with Bob Beatty, a professor at Washburn University, Carlin states “ looking back and it was a great opportunity growing up to develop a work ethic and an appreciation for some of the basics of environmental issues as to what makes agriculture.” Carlin was involved in 4-H from a young age and after graduating from high school he went on to earn a bachelor degree in dairy science, before moving back to the dairy

In my own conceit, I believe John Cresswell Parkin met all the requirements the competition has entailed. His design almost covered all the aspects of the competition—its symbolism and the creation of a civic ‘heart’. However, Parkin did not quite create a positive impact to the citizens of Toronto. The city hall design featured a low podium accompanying a tall building. Looking and analyzing his design, his scheme generated an idea of hierarchy when it should be a symbol of democracy. Despite his drawbacks, his design successfully grasp to the idea of modernity. It was neat and well-arranged—easy to appreciate. His design included creative open floor plans, linear elements, glass windows, and untraditional aesthetics. Moreover, the design’s

For decades, students have been told that college is the next step after high school graduation. Society reiterates this by glorifying individuals that have completed a degree and looking down upon those who do not have one. The problem is that many students have not acquired the necessary tools nor have the motivation to be successful while pursuing post-high school education. Some argue that college provides the foundation of liberal studies that will improve career opportunities. Charles Murray disagrees in his essay, "Are Too Many People Going to College." He states, "Most people should be getting the basics of a liberal education. But for most students, the place to provide those basics are elementary and middle school." (Graff, 238) This raises the question, is a four-year education the best option for all students. College provides many benefits that would be difficult to find elsewhere, such as, writing skills or cultural growth, but college is not meant for everyone. A college education does not guarantee a prosperous career, instead, gaining work experience or completing a trade school is a more intelligent option for the majority of potential students.

He wrote, “The career bandwagon seems to suggest that shortcuts are available to students that lead directly to high-paying jobs—leaving out “frills” like learning how to write and speak well, how to understand the nuances of literacy texts and scientific concepts, how to collaborate with others on research” What he means by that is there is no shortcuts to a high-paying jobs. He also implies that liberal arts education is the only right way to prepare an individual for their future career because it equips ones with the abilities to write and speak formally, and understandings on scientific matter or how to cooperate with other people for your work, etc. However, I do not think he can deny the fact that the starting salary for a liberal arts graduate is approximately $32,500 while for an engineer is $75,000, (http://www.mtu.edu/engineering/outreach/welcome/salary/). For instant, what can a person possibly do with his philosophy degree right after graduating? He will probably have to go for more schooling before he can find a high-paying job at some big firms or he will have to struggle a lot before he can open his philosophy shop or publish his book. In short, a liberal arts degree will take longer to see its worth than career education or vocational training.

Broadly speaking, a liberal arts education is concerned with the pursuit of knowledge as an end in itself, rather than for the sake of acquiring skills targeted at a career. The liberal arts philosophy is traced to the Greek philosopher Socrates, who famously proclaimed that the “unexamined life is not worth living”. To that end, traditional liberal arts education emphasizes the scholarly, the gentlemanly and the liberating. However, contemporary liberal arts education is marked by the integration of liberal and practical education. Consequently, a Christian liberal arts education should provide knowledge and intellectual skills to help students become functional and capable of

In a time when human endeavor was being redesigned, as industries, philosophies, and sciences were growing and affecting the world, Newman wrote an essay explaining the ideas and goals for seeking a liberal arts education. He states in his thesis that the function of such education, “is that of training good members