Denis
Jekic
Dr. Akman
HUMN 220
23rd of January, 2013
Something
in Common -
The
Rise and Fall of the Western Civilization Course
1.
Why do the American people hold so much pride in having a common
system of beliefs with no differences?
This
article was about a topic that had a lot to do with the education
system. More specifically, the colleges throughout America, the
history that these colleges teach, and a class about this general
world history taught in America. "European civilization seemed
to be the sum of world history" was what general
world history seemed to encompass in American colleges and classes
that taught this generalized view. This history was viewed as a
certain type of information that was to be the basis for all other
knowledge that will be acquired throughout life. This was knowledge
that was viewed as common but necessary. Necessary in that it was
required to perform civic duties and be familiar with life and its
goals. I believe that the American people use this pride in having
something in common with each other as a way to shut themselves out
from something that is different and viewed as alienating. "The
community of scholars in America
must be a
democratic community, citizens educated in shared values that make
possible an enlightened public consensus” (pg. 698). The American
people strongly believed that having something in common was viewed
as powerful and would make everyone stronger and the nation itself. I
do not believe that everything about having a common belief system
and education is bad but I believe that freedom and free-thinking and
spirituality all play a part in our education, as well as what is
written and taught from the book. As is seen in future college
classes in the article, many professors began to have free
discussions in classrooms, and began to inspire and create
free-thinkers. This was when the education system was boosted in my
opinion.
2.
What is the role of general education? Higher education?
The
role of general education is viewed as “what they should (the
students) know in common”. That means that participating in a
general course of education allows students to gain common knowledge
but nothing more. Commonalities end at some point, nothing is always
completely equal, and therefore that means that general education,
while great common knowledge to be learned, will eventually be
mastered. How will the student continue on anything else if they
started nothing special? Higher education is viewed as education that
leads to specialization, professionalism, and vocational training
programs/opportunities. Higher education allows for students to
choose a path or career that they want to specialize in and then
begin to take courses that are geared for this career. Some gain
vocational skills by attending special schools that teach these types
of programs. Freedom to choose, to be elective about classes and
careers all has to do with the ability to freely think and choose for
ourselves. Yes, there is plenty useful common sense to be collected,
but we should follow our passions as well.
3.
How is America's view of history related to the history of Europe?
There
is a very strong viewpoint that sees American history to be
essentially the same as European history. “European civilization
seemed to be the sum of history.” It is not so much that the
history of the United States is related to the history of Europe,
it's more so the fact that all our history is seen through a European
historical viewpoint. World history in America is seen as beginning
with the ancient Near East, then the classical Greece and Rome
periods, and lastly the Medieval times and Modern times. This is a
western viewpoint that was inherited by the American people and
created a very shared viewpoint that is not the actual history of the
United States. There is a unique experience and history created for
every part of the world, even if we are all connected. We as the
people lost out own viewpoint and began to conform to another.
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