The following series is taken from my pamphlet titled “Success” Guaranteed?
The United States today faces a severe problem that does not make the front page of the newspaper, nor does it earn any attention during a national election. This problem is not brought on by terrorists, or natural disasters. The problem itself could destroy America from the inside with no one to stop it until it is too late. The worst part, only two groups of people are privy to the inter-workings of this problem, only two groups have the power to stop it, or at least publicize it bringing it to the attention of our leaders. Unfortunately, among the two groups, “Group A” is oblivious to the problem while “Group B,” in their best interest, turns a deaf ear. In some respects, Group B, distracts Group A from seeing the problem that lies before them. One theory is that the root of this problem, shamefully, is money. Another theory says that it is just how society has grown to work. Group A, are students in college. Group B, are the teachers, faculty, administrators, headmasters, and other members of the ‘University Hierarchy.’ The United States has grown into a society that instills in its young people the notion that college is necessary for all no matter what the circumstance. While the objectives of college are noble, it is the effectiveness thereof that falls into question in this modern day. The next phrase will be perceived by some as highly abrasive, but nothing short of the truth is expressed. Colleges are failing to be efficient and hold themselves to high standards, furthermore, success can be attained without college. Some students, who aspire to be lawyers or doctors, need college to become licensed for that trade. Others use college as a ‘rite of passage,’ or transition stage in their lives. Finally, there are those who attend college for no reason other than to please their parents, and society. American culture, when it came to higher education was not always this awry, four groups in modern times have shaped it this way. The modern day college system is flawed, and will be ineffective on most fronts until the system is corrected.
The ‘Cycle of Responsibility’ is a five part cycle in modern day society involving four culprits who are all responsible in different, but mostly equal ways. The first group, Society, can be defined as businesses, and the general American public, they are the beginning of the cycle. The second part of the cycle, Parents, especially Baby Boomers, are perhaps the most negligent of the three groups, they will also be the first to stubbornly pronounce themselves innocent when accused. The third group is the Government, especially concerning the infamous but positive sounding “No Child Left Behind Act,” passed by George W. Bush on January 23rd, 2001, his first order of business as President. The ‘Higher Education Hierarchy’ is the fourth group in the cycle. Finally, society regains control ending the cycle. In many ways these groups have unknowingly worked together to advance the decline of higher education in America. However, as stated before, only two of these groups are aware of the problem, college students who, ironically, tend to be oblivious, and the Hierarchy who chose to remain relatively silent. Before examining each group individually, a brief history of higher education is necessary to fully comprehend the issues.
Higher education dates back to the Ancient Greeks. Some parallels between the Greek schools and modern colleges existed. Plato is by most accounts credited with the first higher learning establishment. Those who came before him, such as Socrates, taught but did not have an established place that teaching took place. In 338 BCE Plato took residence in Athens, Greece where he taught in what was called the “Gymnasion,” but the school itself was often referred to as the “Academy,” according to historian and professor Christopher J. Lucas. Socrates, Plato’s mentor, believed everyone should be privy to a higher form of education similar to what Socrates and Plato both taught. Lucas points out that Socrates, who was Plato’s teacher and mentor, believed that most everyone should receive an education. Plato, however, held the belief that only few could “achieve true wisdom.” Those few would become Kings, Queens and the like. Plato had only a small number of students at his Academy. The small enrollment might be justified by his views on who should try to gain wisdom.
Years later, Libanius of Antioch a private teacher in Athens, documented the rivalry among teachers in Hellenistic society. Within these writings Libanius illustrates the chaos associated with schools of the period. “Wherever there were schools, the resulting influx of students generated a carnival-like atmosphere” Libanius wrote, notes Lucas. Libanius also wrote that if students were not attending lectures, they “tended to give themselves over to gambling, whoring, horse racing, ball games, drinking, or playing practical jokes…upon the hapless local citizenry.” Today very similar unrest occurs on college campuses, this is an amazing parallel between the Hellenistic period and today. The disorderly, restless student population, and struggle to retain obedience among students has existed since the time of Libanius who lived from 314-392 AD.
About 1500 years later was the post-World War II era, mid-20th century. Soldiers, now veterans, were coming home and began to attend college in large numbers. According to Lucas, these service-men and women were “older and more mature” than they had been prior to going and fighting in the war. Lucas notes that in 1948, three years after the war, these veterans were responsible for over half of the Country’s collegiate enrollment. Keep in mind, this was a time when college was not considered essential, or even a requisite to success as it is in today’s society. For them college “was neither a rite of passage to adulthood, nor an interval of leisurely intellectual contemplation and self-discovery.” Instead, college symbolized “climbing another rung on the ladder of opportunity” and they treated it as such. Naturally, the majority of this first group of college-goers have and continue to hold great regard for the higher education system. Their children made up the post-WWII Baby Boomers. Like their parents, the Baby Boomers believed in the college system and wanted to go earn a degree. These two groups, Boomers and their parents, are perhaps the only modern example of student populations that attended a higher learning institution for learnings sake. When baby boomers went to college they, like their parents, devoted themselves to it. Baby Boomer and author Linda Lee recalls the reason she and her peers went to college, “We wanted to change ourselves.” “For me, college was about ideas, and replicating myself.” Modern day students’ reasons for attending college are much different. (Although that is not universally agreed upon, and most students will deny their true reasons for attending college.)
Check back for part 2!
