ࡱ> BDA{` %bjbjFF .6,,#@@@@@@@T< < < 8t , T  $=hj,@ ,@@ A...@ @ ...@@. :Y< B.W0..@.  v.X ,0 ,,d TTT$xTTTxTTT@@@@@@ Mona Aboulnaja Dr. Oguine Engl-1201-ZFE Exploratory Essay September 29, 2004 Problems in Americas School System: Hirsch vs. Barber Both E. D. Hirschs Why Americas Universities Are Better than Its Schools and Benjamin R. Barbers America Skips School identify problems in Americas learning institutions, specifically the K-12 system. They agree that freedoms, such as freedom of the mind and independence of thought, are very important. Hirsch focuses on the importance of freedom in learning, while Barber conveys how important freedom is in becoming a valuable and productive member of society. Hirsch points to the K-12 system as the reason why our youths are mediocre compared to students around the world. In contrast, Barber argues that society as a whole has a negative influence on adolescents as opposed to blaming our institutions. Barber calls for societal reflection and offers a glimmer of hope for reform by suggesting some solutions. Although Hirsch and Barber clearly state and recognize a problem with the educational institutions and a need for action, they differ in who is to blame for the failing public schools. Just by reading the titles of the essays, Why Americas Universities Are Better than Its Schools and America Skips School, it is clear that both writers believe Americas schools are lacking in some areas. In accordance with his title, Hirsch clearly states his opinion on American schools and claims that the United States has created the best public universities and the worst public schools in the developed world (144). This is a bold statement that is meant to shock the reader. Hirsch conveys an immediacy to act by saying that It is unclear how long our best universities can maintain their excellence (144). Similarly, Barber does the same by reporting the statistics set forth by the Department of Education, More than 90 million adult Americans lacked simple literacy. [. . .] more than 3, 000 youngsters will drop out and every day for the rest of the school year, until about 600,000 are lost by June (153). Most readers are unaware of this and can not believe that such a problem can exist in a developed nation. As both men emphasize these serious problems early on in their essays, pleading for action and reform, they help the reader appreciate the gravity of the situation in the school system. Gradually, the writers move to stress the importance of freedom, more specifically freedom of thought. Hirschs belief is that here in America we have better universities than schools, in part because universities foster independence of thought, or freedom of thought, rather than the more practical skills (144) learned in the K-12 system. In universities students are allowed to independently explore different subjects of their interests. Barber also notes that we are not born free, but in fact born ignorant, dependant, and slave-like (158). We can, therefore, get freedom in the classroom through knowledge. However, Hirsch and Barber differ in their views on who is to blame for Americas universities being better than the school systems. Hirsch blames a select few, such as the people that decide the curriculum for schools, and other administrators associated with the school system. Barber, on the other hand, calls for societal reflection and argues that it is not the school system that is misleading the youths, but the members of society all around them who worship heroes in sports and business (157). He states that the media and the childrens uneducated parents are more to blame. He notes, When society undoes each workday what the school tries to do each school day, schooling cant make much of a difference (Barber 153). Barber aggressively communicates his belief that if Americans do not try to reform society, the best teachers in the world would not make a difference in the K-12 system. In addition to emphasizing that there is a huge problem with Americas public schools, Barber and Hirsch call their audiences to do something about it. However, unlike Hirsch, Barber offers suggestions on exactly what to do to improve the schools, and offers Americans hope. Barber states that raising teachers pay, making school facilities better in all schools, extending the school year, and putting the parents, teacher and students first, would be done right now if they really wanted the public schools to be better (160-161). He offers hope to the audience by affirming that America, however, has historically been able to accomplish what it sets its mind to (161). This gives the reader back his pride about America, and probably pushes him more to fix the problem about the schools. Hirsch, in contrast, just gives a grim statement of, It is unclear how long our best universities can maintain their excellence when students who enter them and who will subsequently staff them are ill prepared (144). In fact, Hirsch makes a valid statement of his opinion, but offers no hope of reform, while Barber goes a step further by suggesting solutions. In fact, Barbers views relate more to my personal experiences in high school and Seton Hall, because he does not put the blame on the teachers and, or school administrators, but rather on society as a whole. He puts more blame on the parents of the children and the media. I had wonderful teachers all throughout high school. I can honestly say that I learned a lot, not only about school, but about life as well. Teachers at my high school really cared about the students, and it showed. One memory from high school that sticks out in my mind was when my AP biology teacher, Mrs. Paganelli, invited our whole class to her beautiful home, so that we could study for the AP exam together. Because of her help, there were very few students that dropped out of West Orange High School, and the ones that did, I am almost positive that they dropped out because of circumstances in their personal lives, possibly brought on by family. I feel that I am more than prepared for Seton Hall University. Finally, both Hirsch and Barber clearly reveal a problem with our public school system. While Hirsch traces the cause of this problem back to teachers, and other administrators that run the public schools, Barber says that we could have the best teachers, but if society does not change its role models, then our youths still will not appreciate the value of academic knowledge. I think that Barbers essay is more efficient than Hirschs for a number of reasons. Barber does not focus or put blame on a specific group, as we all tend to do when something goes wrong, rather he asks us to look at ourselves. Rather than just stating a problem and offering no hope for the future, Barber offers suggestions on what to do about this problem with our schools. He also puts back pride for America into the readers by stating that Americans have a history of doing what they set out to do. This is important, and gets people motivated to do something. Overall, Barbers essay more effectively accomplishes the goal of both essays, and that is to call the readers to action. Works Cited Barber, Benjamin R. America Skips School. The McGraw-Hill Reader: Issues Across The Disciplines. Ed. Gilbert H. Muller. 8th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2003. 153-162. Hirsch, E.D. Why Americas Universities Are Better Than Its Schools. The McGraw- Hill Reader: Issues Across The Disciplines. Ed. Gilbert H. Muller. 8th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2003. 143-146.     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