Student-As-Consumer Approach Research Paper

Students who see themselves as consumers expect to be given high grades. They believe that they deserve good grades because they pay tuition and attend the required classes. They do not presume higher education to involve effort, challenge of negative feedback. Daniel Bruno’s essay titled “Entitlement Education” refers to the book by Peter Sacks, “Generation X Goes to College,” who stated that “Sacks shows how consumerism has invaded education, leading some students to expect good grades for little effort” (252). In other words, student consumers believe that good grades should be awarded merely because of paying their fees and perhaps occasionally attending class. Studying and performing well on exams is no longer seen as a necessary step towards earning high marks. This concept is also part of Simon

Andrew Simmons published his article for The Atlantic, “The Danger of Telling Poor Kids that College is the Key to Social Mobility” on January 16, 2014, which raises his concerns that higher education is only being promoted as an opportunity to increase their economic status, when it should be an opportunity to experience an education (Simmons). Through the use of students such as Isabella, Simmons disagrees with the way students now look at higher education and blames the educators through the students’ lives for this view. Instead, Simmons views education as an intellectual opportunity rather than a way to elevate ones economic class which is all people see when they see “higher education.” He believes that education, ambition and work ethic is how you have a satisfying life, not with how much you make. He makes the point that when economics becomes the main goal of education it’s all children begin to think about and they might not pursue something that they are truly passionate about or what they want to learn about, which then does not create an intellectually awakening experience (Simmons).

“What Is College For” by Andrew Delbanco, shows the need for both a universal college system; one which caters for all of society, and one which provides a liberal education. Delbanco gives many reasoned thoughts on how, and why the college system has become restricted, to purely those of a higher socio-economic background, rather than being exclusive to people of all backgrounds. The idea of college being a platform for people to learn, advance their skills, and become whatever they want to be has seemingly diminished over time. The ideas in favor of such an educational system are put forward, but they are foreshadowed in my opinion, by the notion that people should have the same educational opportunities in life; regardless of their economic or social background. A universal education system is needed for our society to prosper, especially if it provides a liberal education; this is not just for the individuals that make up a community, but for the community, as a whole.

Charles Murray’s essay proposes that American colleges are being flooded with individuals who are either unprepared for higher education or who are simply forced into attending college and can’t succeed because of the lack of certain innate abilities. Murray’s essay goes on to take issue with the idea that the pursuit of a traditional college education is somehow strategically creating a separation of the American class system. While Murray makes many salient points with regards to America’s obsession with college education as a standard into a class of the intellectual elite, the essay fails to take into consideration the various motivators that can lead to student success, despite

Too many people are receiving degrees while their ideal profession does not involve extraneous education. Charles Murray conveys his opinion intending to persuade his vast audience, whom can be inferred as upcoming, or presently, college students along with their parents and educational administrators; such as teachers and guidance counselors. Through use of a simply structured article with equally understandable syntax and diction, his hidden meaning couldn’t be more obvious of an ideology. Along with the additional assistance of vivid imagery to put the audience in a hypothetical perspective to further his argument that too many people are going to college, which in turn decreases the worth of a degree,

In his article “In the Basement of the Ivory Tower,” Professor X explains how our society pressures people to take college courses for which they are not equipped. As both a community college and private college adjunct English teacher, Professor X explains the goal of his courses is for the student to complete research, form opinions, put together facts, then write their papers. He provides examples where people must take a certain amount of college level classes to advance in their occupation or to even apply for a job. He says, “There is a sense that the American workforce needs to be more professional at every level” (X). Even though he agrees that college should be an option if a person wants it, he argues that not everyone is

He argues that a liberal education just might be what Americans should strive for.In his essay he made an argument that “A Liberal Arts degree is a luxury that most families can no longer offer.’Career education’ is what we now must focus on”(227). Some people may argue against the importance of college education based on its value to just get a good job. So, their focus always remains on career-based education instead of acquiring a higher education for living one’s

A pamphlet comes in the mail for you today, it has bright colors and smiling faces throughout the entire thing. It’s from a college you just applied for, you don’t know why you applied but you coughed up the 50 dollars from your minimum wage job, just to see if a couple of people in an admissions office believe you are intelligent enough to attend their University. As your eyes scan the pamphlet your eyes naturally shoot right towards how expensive its going to be, and the assistance you are eligible to receive. The price is excruciatingly high and the assistance is unbelievably low, but you are expected to go to a well known college to get a good job. Higher education is not so much a necessity, but a privilege, because it is so expensive. But, society tells you that you need to do this. You need to go to a good college after you are done with high school. Society has ingrained into us that if you don 't go to college, you will never get a good job and you will most likely be looked down on as less intelligent. But, higher education is not always the best option for most people, and attending a college should or should not signify a person 's intelligence.

Some may say education is education no matter where you get it from, what you go to school for, or how long you go to school for. But Thompson believes that, the concerns of the citizens are mainly “focused on the effectiveness of educational practices and the quality of student learning” (Thompson 1). Which some of the citizens are because they take pride in accomplishment and to say that they achieved college or university with the knowledge to go off into the field of work, and to gain

When I first started to read “Education and Consumerism: Using Students’ Assumptions to Challenge Their Thinking” by Deborah Miller Fox, I thought to myself how can you compare the universities, students, and professors to all the aspects of a business? With that question in mind the further I read the more the main point started to come together and make sense. It was interesting to see how comparable education was to consumerism. When I viewed my university as a consumer market and myself as a consumer, instead of a student, everything I thought about education was reevaluated. Thinking about a professor-student relation as a business relationship is very unique perspective. Just as you are in a business contract, you and your professor have certain obligations you owe each other. It is interesting to see that “you get what you pay for” and that instead of paying with money you pay with time and attention. When you look at education

As a student, it is almost impossible not to ask yourself if a college education is truly worth the price. While attending a public high school, there was never a cost associated with gaining an education. Today, college can best be described as a transaction between a college and its students. Due to the fact that a college education is not free, college students are indeed considered consumers.

As a senior in high school who plans to attend a 4-year university next year, I am in the process of saving money because next year around this time I will be making large investments. With making these immense payments, I expect to graduate with useful skills, knowledge, and a degree will eventually help me and be worth it in the long run, although, I know these things will not be automatically be given to me. After reading Fox's essay, I do wish to be known as a common consumer for various reasons. With the consumer mentality as a model for higher education, the student realizes that they pave their own path and it is up to them to take advantage of the materials they are given in regards to the amount of money that they pay. Thinking about

Education is, without a doubt, one of the most highly-sought-after goals for most individuals nearing the completion of their high school careers throughout America. From a very young age, it is driven into us that we need to get a post-secondary education if we want to survive in the world of tomorrow. In most instances, I would be inclined to agree. But that education, of course, has a price. Robert Borosage with the Campaign for America 's Future (co-director) was recently on The Young Turks, an online progressive news/commentary program which is primarily featured on XM satellite radio. During an interview with the host, Cenk Uyger, Mr. Borosage brought up

There is no sincerer love than the love for food, and you don’t need a silver fork to

Ever wonder why students drop out of college after their freshman year? Have you ever found yourself sitting in class wondering why you had to be there? Well in Article 26 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “everyone has the right to education”. The global movement Education For All, led by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization describes education as not only a right, but a passport to human development; opening doors and expanding opportunities and freedoms. Education is considered a human right and the education we receive should in fact be an adequate one. However, this is not the case if public education is leaving our students unprepared for college. There is a lack of quality