Traditions and Values in American Education :: Learning Schooling College Papers

Traditions and Values in American Education The question of whether colleges and universities serve to pass on to students the great traditions and values of Western culture is one of many issues that I would like to discuss as it pertains to my high school teaching. The Presence of Others has given me the opportunity to read the opinions of several educational thinkers on this subject, and from them I have formed a clearer idea about the value of a broad education which would necessarily include the traditions and values of Western culture. To begin with, I should like to discuss Cardinal Newman, who in the 19th century argues for liberal studies because he felt that education is preparation for life. Its purpose is to train the mind for whatever problems arise in an individual's future by grounding him in cultural traditions and values. He describes a liberal education in the following way: "A habit of mind is formed which lasts through life, of which the attributes are, freedom, equitableness, calmness, or what in a former Discourse I have ventured to call a philosophical habit."(Lunsford & Ruszkiewicz 48). I very much agree with this idea. In my opinion a student should be educated broadly, not like me, for instance, who was very well trained in math but not prepared for anything else, and now I am finding it hard to fill in the empty spaces, but the need to know more and learn more is strong in me, so I keep trying. But the point is that even though I am educated, I feel ignorant . That's my reason for saying that students in high school and university should get a broad education. And I am happy that my children have not been trapped by a special talent as I was, and that they are interested in the every area of their education equally. They will be getting the education that I was denied; and they will learn the traditions and values through their history and literature classes, for example, which will better prepare them for life here in the United States especially, where citizens must be able t o participate in the democratic process. I will use as an example my son Gagik, who was enrolled in the magnet law program at Monroe High School. But even though he wasn't in a mth program, neverthless, he was able to take higher math up through calculus.