The Importance Of Liberal Education

“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.

Today many argue that changing the Liberal Arts is essential to creating a better society. Mulcahy argues the Liberal Arts should look to empower students (pp. 478 Mulcahy). It should try to give students the confidence to lead, the skills to organize, knowledge to fix problems, or change their world. Some colleges have this as part of their goals within their liberal education programs. This is vastly different from the traditional Liberal Arts education that is still prevalent today. Where traditional Liberal Arts educations taught to inform and give students the skills to work in society, the new version also looks to set students up with the ability to change their society. The newer version of a liberal education creates students who are

First and foremost there needs to be an established understanding of what liberal arts are. In the article “Why Choose Liberal Arts?” Mark William Roche explains that liberal arts were originally intended for free men, those who weren’t being educated for the sole purpose of gaining a livelihood, but rather for the sake of being educated and included things like grammar, rhetoric, arithmetic, music and astronomy. He then goes on to clarify the meaning of liberal arts today as “a general education that is a broad grounding in the diverse disciplines.” Furthermore, in his article, “The Liberal Arts Bubble” John Agresto writes that today liberal arts are still called liberal not

to understand each branch of the tree better if you can see how it is involved

The freedom to choose a students own career path and not have such restraints against where students go and what students have to do. Of course there are the usual school related rules, but not for courses. Studies start to ask what do liberal arts schools have little to do with ‘’harsh realities’’. Roth says ‘’Post secondary education should help students to discover what they love to do,to get better at it, and to develop the ability to continue learning so that they become agents of change- not victims of it’’ (‘’What’s a Liberal Arts Education Good For’’)this says that a liberal college doesn't help anything , that it makes it worse. Roths whole article states that liberal arts college is a colege of freedom. Its does not prepare their students for the real

A study in general education (liberal arts) affects different aspects of my development both physically and mentally. A liberal arts education has shaped the form I conceive and return over individual circumstances. After attending class and reading all the benefits of a liberal arts education it has shaped the direction I held regarding a Liberal Arts education. A liberal arts education has shifted the way I study and the process I go about completing my school work. Furthermore, from the manner I organize my day to the way I organize my goals, a liberal arts education really shaped the way I do my everyday schedule. The liberal arts class changed me into a greater adapted, more efficient and effective member of society. A liberal arts education taught me the value and efficiency of critical and independent thinker. Within the real world, an individual who can show aforementioned qualities is higher valued than the person who cannot. With a liberal arts education, you are more fit to acquire and exhibit these skills. A liberal arts education are intended to broaden the general knowledge and experiences of the students, and the class accomplished just that. The class affected my mentality about school and the way I see the real world.

When someone thinks of liberal education most of the time they think of someone who is interested in art or music but the more that I learn about liberal education the more I realize there is a lot more involved in that kind of education. By reading these articles, liberal education is making someone more knowledgeable in a subject or area that person would of never thought about learning on their own. The University of Wisconsin in Oshkosh is trying to promote liberal education by doing the University Studies Program (USP) set in place.

Time has changed, this is the twenty-first century but instead of growing in education, there is an increase in population instead. Liberal education is way more important in college I believe liberal itself explains the meaning, which means education teaches a person to think broadly. There used to be a time when it all started with a small population who went to the college but now these colleges does not have many criteria and allow everyone in the college. The high scorer and average students are studying together, unfortunately no competition. I still remember my time when I came to high school there was high demand for the grades to get into a good school but now when I see my brother admitting in the same school without putting the efforts that I put, seems bad and frustrating. There was the value of grades in our era but now it 's about who so ever have more money and can afford, will win it. Mr. Andrew said that education is expensive and it should not only be a machine producing students for the jobs or employment. And he stated in his interview “work better to keep this space for self-reflection”(2012). But I believe that liberal education is meant to make a human, a good person for himself as well as for his nation. Moreover, Mr. Andrew made a very good point that colleges help out young students to help out figure their talent and make them motivated enough to choose a career for themselves.

While the concept of the liberal arts dates back to antiquity, I firmly believe that its relevance and necessity couldn’t be more contemporary. When ancient scholars formulated the intent to inform students in myriad areas of study, their ideology centered around the concept of shaping citizens such that they might be empowered and educated in order to ideally perform their respective civic duties. Being informed was a necessity. More than ever before, my peers and I enter a higher education environment where acceptance of plurality is paramount. No area of study or research is insular, in fact, majors and disciplines are more interconnected than ever. Understanding multiple viewpoints, various belief systems, the way science relates to religion or sociology is inextricable from economics—this is why liberal arts is essential and effective.

During the era of the Greco-Roman world, when ancient Greek and Rome intertwined, (Top Universities) liberal arts was meant to free the individual from blindly following a leader and to help develop a rational and practical knowledge in society. It helped the person contribute their ideas and participate in their community. Breaking the idea of a liberal arts education down, it means to have freedom. Freedom to explore and

Liberal education is studying subjects that you might need for future skills. It might not be something you major in but it could be important for your future. Let say you major in nursing and you got the job at a hospital. After three or four years or working at the hospital you got tired of it and you want to change your career. You have taken Math,English, Art, and Science so you can change your career to something that you are really interesting in. You might have to take a few more course, but it’s worth investing your time. If you are in college that is just based on learning technical skills, then you might have trouble look for other jobs that you later on interested in life. I think liberal education is important for everyone and it will help you in the long run.

As the world is becoming more specialized, lots of institutions do not cease questioning the role of liberal arts education in equipping proficient students. Nowadays, one can hardly say that the liberal arts should be tossed aside. In fact, liberal arts education appeals more and more people, as it helps develop critical thinking, obtain independence and bring up a citizen of the democracy.

A liberal education is a unique form of education that teaches a student a wide range of skills and also gives a student knowledge over a broad range of topics. Students may still learn in depth on one primary subject but they are not limited to just that topic. Instead they have the ability to expand their mind and touch on ideas about subjects they otherwise would not know.

Ever since the mid-20th century, Liberal education has been the main course of education to much undergraduate institute in the United States include the University of South Dakota. When the 21st century come, with broad goals of to helps students develop a sense of social responsibility, as well as strong and transferable intellectual and practical skills to apply knowledge and skills in real-world settings, liberal education embraces the practice of both academic and out-of-class activities. However, I believe the community and extracurricular involvement in the university are becoming more important for the student today.

Both writers, Paulo Freire and Mark Edmundson have a sense of the teacher – student relationship that is based on some experiences they have had. The relationships are not mutual; it is more of a give and take understanding. The schools will stop at nothing to attract students to their universities even if it goes against morals and norms. Although others have noted liberal education is the new way of conducting business, they have overlooked the importance of Humanity-based education. In the past, education was based on the academics and substance received from the university. Now, It is more of a business that is driven by money and pleasing the parents and students.