Liberal Arts Education: the real education reform in America
The decline of a model of liberal education based on the arts and humanities in the U.S. raises the concern for the future of the nation's democracy and the condition of American citizens. As a supporter of liberal arts education, I strongly believe that a curriculum of the arts and humanities is imperative for the U.S. to form citizens of character and empathy for the nation's democracy. A liberal arts education does not promise to shape all people into emotionally aware citizens, willing to devote their lives to combating the wrongs in the world. In fact, some people may not promote the ideas and policies of liberal arts teaching. However, an education of the arts and humanities guarantees to give citizens a chance to explore and experience the world without limitation. It houses the opportunity to study and understand the human experience without the hindrance of unquestioned and feared authority; thereby shaping and producing free-thinking citizens equipped with the tools necessary to change the world, if they choose to do so.
The problem with education in the U.S. today, and some aspects of education reform for that matter, is the sole effort to compete and keep up with other nations in testing and graduation numbers. President Obama declares education the “economic issue of our time.” It seems the nation merely perceives education as the key to financial prosperity and a prerequisite for a well-paying job. I do not see anything wrong with aspiring to be the leading nation in producing the most graduates and obtaining the highest test scores. Nor do I oppose the promotion of higher education in an effort to obtain better paying jobs and increase the nation's revenue. However, these efforts become irrelevant when education is no longer an enjoyment, but a tiring task to compete with the advancement of other nations and a means of determining one's intelligence and competence through standardized testing. Instead, education should be geared toward producing well-rounded individuals who are globally aware and sensitive to the world-wide human experience. If more Americans recognize education as the key to cognitive freedom and personal growth, rather than a tool for monetary gain, more citizens will seek a higher education; thereby hopefully improving school performance and increasing graduation rates. It is possible that the U.S. will become the leading nation in education, but only under one condition. The U.S. must first resort back to the liberal arts education to produce open-minded, free-thinking citizens instead of programmed machines of the government.
Thanks to Freefoto for the photo.
@ 4:46 am body said:
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