What is Education For - Class Notes (10_3_23)

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Rutgers University *

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Arts Humanities

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Dec 6, 2023

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1) Danielle Allen writes, "The dominant policy paradigm attends almost exclusively to education's vocational purpose." (9). In your own words, explain what Allen means by "the policy paradigm." What does she mean by "education's vocational purpose?" ● When Allen states “the policy paradigm,” she refers to the government's dominant way of thinking about education. It’s a set of beliefs that influence policies for education. The paradigm is vocational specific education. ● “Education’s vocational purpose” refers to the fact that the government’s main purpose was to prepare students for a specific job in a specific market. 2) Why, according to Allen, has funding for the humanities been reduced since 1957? And again in 1983? ● Funding for humanities has been reduced since 1957 because of the National Defense Education Act (which was a response to the US falling behind to the USSR in the cold war). It increased funding for science and math education, in addition to vocational training. ● Funding for humanities was reduced again in 1983 because of the Reagan administration and its report: “A Nation at Risk.” it frightened America by stating that our education system was inferior compared to foreign powers. It also placed emphasis on STEM related subjects so American students could play a productive role in a productive society 3) Allen writes, "When we think about education and equality, we tend to think first about distributive questions“ (9). What are "distributive questions"? And what is the relationship between education and equality, according to Allen? ● Distributive questions are questions related to the fair distribution of educational resources and benefits to all students ● The relationship between education and equality is explained with a civic concept. Although the distribution of education is necessary, it may not result in equality. Students may not have an equal distribution of resources. 4) What is the "civic conception of education“ (9)? How does it differ from the "vocational" conception? ● The civic conception of education refers to education that prepares citizens to be able to efficiently participate in the American government, whether that means to vote, serve on a jury, or something else. ● Vocational conception and education prepares a student to participate in a general labor market. It’s designed to teach students valuable skills needed for a specific job. 5) Allen writes, "[P]olicymakers, education specialists, and many parents...have narrowed their focus exclusively to the economic field. In the process, they have lost sight of the full range of inequalities from which our society suffers and which well-rounded education could alleviate“ (10). What are some of the "inequalities" that the STEM-based "vocational model" cannot account for? ● Some inequalities in the STEM-based “vocational model” cannot account for civic duties and government participation: being able to vote, influence government’s policy making decisions, being on a jury, etc.
○ Other inequalities that refer to gender-inequality, racism, discrimination, activism, etc. 6) What are "civic agency" and "participatory readiness"? ● Civic agency refers to a citizen’s willingness to participate in a democracy. Ideal civic agency carries out three main tasks, disinterested deliberation, prophetic frame-shifting, and fair fighting (both ethically and justly) ● Participatory readiness is the idea of an education that focuses on providing a distinct and better way to promote equality. 7) What, according to Allen, is "the ideal ordinary citizen“ (12)? ● An ideal ordinary citizen is not a professional policial but nonetheless has the ability to be an educated citizen ready for participation within a democratic society. ○ Someone who’s an activist, critical thinker whilst being just and ethical 8) Allen writes, "we need the liberal arts. They were called the free person's arts for a reason“ (13). What is the reason the liberal arts were called "the free person's arts"? ● It’s called “the free person’s arts” because they aim for a citizen to be an intellect whilst advancing personal and societal developments to promote freedom (broadly speaking). 9) Allen writes, "through the acquisition of participatory readiness, a great diversity of citizens could tap into the power to change oligarchical social and political arrangement” (13). How does this participatory readiness allow this great diversity of citizens to gain this power? ● By educating the mass about civic duties as a citizen, the people as a whole are enabled to make changes. As it states in the constitution, if the people are not having their rights protected by the government, they are entitled to overthrow the government and replace it with one that aims to protect such rights. This can only be done if the citizens of the country are ready to participate and educated. It wouldn’t matter the race, ethnicity, or gender, but rather that they are educated.
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