Henry is a strong supporter of Egalitarianism, who argues that all human beings are equal and hence deserve equal chances. However from this excerpt, Henry is in support of elitism when it comes to shaping the American education system which he argues to have failed. Of most importance to note is the fact that elitism completely contradicts the main principles of egalitarianism. Henry argues that the American education system should be restructured so that only a few remain to offer degree and diploma programs. The rest (the majority of the community colleges) he thinks should be used to provide vocational training for high school students and also be used for on-the-job training for those already working, “These schools serve the academically marginal and would better be replaced by vocational training in high school and on-the –job training at work” (Henry III 323). Barber is a political science professor, he argues against the new education system in America and thinks it’s a tragedy in the making. He asserts that the failure of America’s education system is as a result of the system trying to conform to the standards and practices of the society rather than letting students adhere to such standards. To sort out the mess, Barber postulates that the society should change its view about education. He argues against Henry by saying that there is need to train more students through colleges and universities and reward them adequately as well in terms of salaries and wages (Barber 338). By the society changing their view about education, education will maintain its status in the society again and claim its lost glory.
Henry holds that elitism in education is best to solve the current problem facing America. He notes that currently, the glory of higher education being key to an individual’s success is uncalled for and should be blamed for the failure of America’s education system. According to Henry, the prestige that came with holding a diploma or a degree certificate is long gone. Today, many students in America have gone through colleges which the government spends a lot of money to fund, “The total bill for higher education is about $150 billion per year, with almost two-thirds of that spent by public institutions run with taxpayer funds” (Henry III 320). However, this does not translate to equity when it comes to what these students get in the job market. At the end of their training, some of these college graduates are considered not to have the required level of skills to get placement in the job market.
But Baber’s view on the failure of the American education system is that our children have become society-smart than school smart. These children are then inclined to read the social signs that are being given by the society, and they take lessons from these rather than focusing on reading books. Baber blames the failure of the American education system to the hypocrisy of the current generation, he says that the current generation honors ambitions, worships acquisitiveness, cherishes success, is materialistic, rewards greed and has commercialized schooling (Barber 338). As a result of these, our children have also copied us and are walking into our footsteps, and it would be so hypocritical to blame them for being lazy, complacent and illiterate when it comes to education and learning. He sarcastically concludes that “we bark at the young about the gentle arts of the spirit,” insinuating merely copying from the old.
According to this view, the failure of America’s education system is not as a result of lesser abilities and lack of gifts amongst some students to do better and become literate as Henry has argued. In Baber’s view, it is the society that has made education less interesting to the young generation. In fact, the government itself does not value education, if it did, we would be paying teachers as much as we pay stockbrokers and if we valued books, even adults would be going to the library to read. According to Baber, the society’s ignorance of fundamental human values and values have made our children shun education and opt for other means of success. For example, the fact that media houses have made Donald Trump, George Steinbrenner, Henry Kravis and Peter Rose potent role models citing their success without considering their values (Barber 338), our children are likely to go the same route as these four and would ignore education or would not consider it as important.
As opposed to Henry, Barber’s main concern it the rather “I don’t care” attitude (Barber 335) that everyone seems to have about the failing education system in America. However, his assertions seem to be much reasonable and non-discriminative as opposed to the suggestions of Henry. Henry’s thoughts that the problem with the American education system is entranced in the fact that equal opportunities have been given to all students even those with lesser talents and abilities, however, the increase in equity which he otherwise calls opening the academy, has been the backbone of the increased economic potential of many Americans. This is not to say that all those who are within the bracket of being economically well-off are all elites in terms of intellectual ability. It is true as Henry says that the general aim why people go to school is to gain or make money (Henry III 320), so it’s only true as Henry says that it’s the pursuit of material things that has made our society become so focused on money than education. As a result, our children will also be inclined to chasing money and looking for short cuts to get to it than sitting in classrooms and learning.
Henry’s solution to the failed education system seems to be so pragmatic but shallow based for it would eliminate the equity gains which have been achieved in America so far. It is likely to create more class stratification than what his egalitarian belief expects. Changing the American education system, therefore, requires an overall change in the society’s mindset. As our children have become more socially smart than book smart, approaching the issue of a failing education system from a social perspective would be more appropriate than approaching it from Henry’s pragmatic suggestions.
References
Henry III, William A. In defense of elitism. Anchor, 2015.
Barber, Benjamin R. A passion for democracy: American essays. Princeton University Press, 2000.
