Mark Edmundson On The Uses Of A Liberal Education Summary

The well-known phrase of hard work pays off is a staple of any culture to enforce the ideology that you deserve what you earn. In Brent Staples’, Why Colleges Shower Their Students with A's, he informs the reader of the current situations in colleges and universities involving grade inflation. Grade inflation is devaluing many degrees across the country as an “easy way out” to succeed on both the students and professors ends. Staples makes it known that the higher education, many go back to school for, is being discredited due to the professors in the field. Thus, leaving students at a disadvantage to accept a higher grade, when it is known that they have not fairly earned it.

Mark Edmundson’s “Liberal Arts & Lite Entertainment” in his book Why Teach? develops an argument about the culture surrounding education. The university professor takes a stance on the problems that he has experienced both in his own classroom and observed on campus as well as others, and he assigns these problems—his claims—appropriate blames. Enough logic is used to make these “blames” more factual, and he often claims how things are and usually offers several reasons as to why. His essay, originally written in 1997, begins with his own university before branching out to all those across the country, and it is followed by a deduction of student culture and professors. He gives hope to the idea of the acceptance and praising of “genius” (as

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

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.

Jamaladeen Obaid English 5 Professor 10/21/2015 Knowledge is light and the darkness of ignorance In the early days Liberal art education provided students with information that allowed them to expand their knowledge. It brings a strong foundation for students because it highlights the necessity of science, writing, art, philosophy, and history. These are fundamental to being a well-rounded and successful student.

Imagine blowing up a balloon, with every exhale of breath the balloon gets bigger. Similar to a balloon, with every year that passes grades inflate. In “Grade Inflation Gone Wild” by Stuart Rojstaczer, he discusses how the grading system has changed over the years. Rojstaczer’s overall purpose is to increase awareness of grade inflation and persuade his audience to take action. He argues that “changes in grading have had a profound influence on college life and learning” (2).

Grade inflation has been rising in education in the United States. Stuart Rojstaczer and Phil Primack both have arguments about grade inflation. They both see how it is affecting the quality of education. Today, the expectations and pressures to receive the higher grades takes its toll on the students and the professors. Rojstaczer and Primack make their points about the widespread occurrence of grade inflation affects the credibility of earning a degree.

In his article “I Just Wanna Be Average”, Rose makes the statement: “students will float to the mark you set” (Rose, 1989, p. 3). This remark is one of the truest I have ever read. When teachers have high expectations, students tend to rise up and meet those expectations. Students want to please their teachers and be praised by them. Rose describes: “I loved getting good grades from MacFarland…

Elona Kalaja Professor Eleni Saltourides ENG 101 Critical Analysis Paper February 21, 2018 Flunking vs Students In the article, “In Praise of the F Word” Mary Sherry argues that flunking students is a method that has been effective in the past and is still effective todays day, and anyone needs to see is as a positive teaching tool. Sherry indicates that flunking students is a method that motivates students to study more and to be more responsible for what is their responsibility. Students challenge is not to get an A or B, but to succeed or to fail.

In Kurt Wiesenfeld’s article “Making the Grade”, he address the issue that students want a higher grade than they deserve. He goes on to prove this be by giving examples of previous students that he has had and what can happen when students get the grades that they want and not what they deserve. In Wiesenfeld’s article he states that about ten percent of students that take his class do not care about their grades until final grades are over. “You might groan and moan, but you accepted it as the outcome of your efforts or lack thereof,” Wiesenfeld stated.

“Why, then, do we educate our children in the liberal studies? It is not because they can bestow virtue, but because they prepare the soul for the reception of virtue” in the text “liberal studies and education” by Seneca, this quote illustrates Seneca’s beliefs in that liberal studies are not the path to virtue in fact he believes that the path to virtue is seen through wisdom. The effects of virtue through wisdom are illustrated in the text through the characteristics of loyalty, kindliness and temperance. Seneca believes an individual achieves virtue when one shows true wisdom he believes that this is not achieved through the studies of liberal studies. Seneca illustrates this through the use of several key points throughout the text.

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”.

Sacrificing their individuality and creativity is just a step in the right direction towards their version of success. Even though sacricinfing one’s true self is great, they are willing to do so if it brings them profit in their own lives. Ultimately, the selfish need for success outweighs the corruption and negativity it brings to the overall system, and in that respect, restricts itself from progressing towards change. Because a generic system like a college can not cater to every individual, there are always concrete flaws, one of which is the pressure to confrom.

In “From Degrading to De-Grading,” Alfie Kohn criticizes current grading systems and their alleged harm to students. Kohn first lists three main problems with grading and then adds seven more. In summary, grading results in students showing little interest in learning, students choosing easier assignments, and less creative students (p. 254-255). The next seven points expose grading as unreliable, distracting, and tedious. Grading also incites cheating and ruins relationships between students and teachers (p. 255-257).

In conclusion, a difficult matter for students and thier families to settle for colleges with fewer amenities and lower costing