Frank Bruni’s “The Wilds of Education” draws attention to the lack of taboo topics present in the American education system. He ardently supports the idea of discussing topics such as “bullying, sexual assault, and gun violence” (Bruni, Paragraph 1). He believes that discussing such topics would enrich student’s learning. For instance, Bruni discusses the novel…
In 2014, The Princeton Tory published an article written by, then freshman, Tal Fortgang (Fortgang 1). In the article, Fortgang asserts that opinions on the Princeton campus are often stifled, “Solely on the basis of the person that voiced them” (Fortgang 1). Moreover, he accuses the people who tell him to “‘Check your privilege’” (Fortgang 1) of, “Diminishing everything [he] [has] personally accomplished” (Fortgang 1). Fortgang’s central theme is that his “privilege” was earned by his family, through countless hardships and many years of suffering. In the following month, a dissenting article written by “classmate” (Payton 1) Briana Payton was published by Time magazine. Payton, who subscribes to a political ideology opposite that of Fortgang,…
In Mr. Freedman’s first honors math class, he noticed a student, John Gill, who looked similar to the students he had grown up with in New York, sitting alone in the middle row. Mr. Freedman decided to talk to him and they had a great relationship. It was only two months in to talking to this student every day that Mr. Freedman realized he was African-American. The other students knew he was African-American and purposely decided not sit with him because of prejudice. Mr. Freedman has since lost contact with him and John Gill has not reached out to Georgia Tech. One of Mr. Freedman’s roommates was also good friends with John Gill…
The book, Ain’t No Makin’ It, allows us to enter the world of two distinct peer groups in a low income housing project in America. Jay MacLeod takes us on a journey to explain why the attitudes, beliefs, expectations, and aspirations of these two groups of teenagers differ so greatly despite their similarities. One of the primary focuses is on education and the Hallway Hangers and Brothers experiences within Lincoln High School. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child are important documents whose intention is to guarantee basic rights to all people, including children, regardless of where they live in the world. Both documents unequivocally state that education is an important and fundamental right for all. After reading this book, it is my belief that the United States falls short in fulfilling the educational rights set forth in these important declarations. The Brothers and Hallway Hangers were not granted an education that promoted tolerance, encouraged attendance, or provided equity in their education.…
In the essay, "Teaching Tolerance in America," Dudley E. Devlin voices his opinions both regarding to, and how to rid school systems of; racial, gender, and social diversity. Loaded with over exaggerations and generalizations, Devlin accomplishes an essay "provoking response" through his ironic tone. If this essay was in fact directed towards persuading his audience to adopt his solutions, he does not accomplish it well.…
In an article entitled “University Greek Life”, Lucier discusses that for many students, one of the highlights of their time in school is their experience with and membership in a fraternity or sorority. She states that joining a fraternity or sorority during your college years is a big decision. In addition, she feels that since someone is in college, they know how important it is to research and think critically before making a decision one way or the other. Lucier also identifies that even if you have the most positive, supportive fraternity or sorority in mind, there has been a culture that has historically supports hazing in higher education. (Lucier)…
I decided to evaluate an excerpt from the book The Presence of Others. This selection, entitled Keeping Close to Home: Class and Education, was written by Bell Hooks, and is taken from her book Talking Back, published in 1989. Hooks is the author of many other volumes, including Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center (1984), Teaching to Transgress: Education as the Practice of Freedom (1994), and Remembered Rapture: The Writer at Work (1999). According to the co-author of The Presence of Others, Andrea A. Lunsford, Hooks is comparable to fellow featured authors Adrienne Rich and Mike Rose for their similar views on education being "the practice of exclusion" (93). Hooks displays this view in Keeping Close to Home by sharing with us her struggle in being "materially underprivileged at a university where most folks...are materially privileged..." (95), and by showing us how difficult it was for her to inherit the education that was being offered to her while keeping the values and beliefs she'd grown up with.…
Colleges and universities are no noticed for their educational status instead of their racial or social groups. Black teachers are no longer seen as a rarity on any educational environment, black students are not seen as a rarity on campus, but society has grown, or rather diminished, into assigning stereotypes to every social group; stereotypes are no longer focused on minorities. Minorities now play an integral role in colleges; at this point in time colleges are proud if a diverse campus and even advertise it. Rather than being bounded to colleges Nikki Giovanni’s concerns have moved on, leaving campuses free of racism, and exploded into society.…
It is quite shocking for students in college to talk about their parents with no respect. Bell Hooks, a southern black girl from a working-class background in Kentucky, who has never rode on a city bus, or even an escalator, explains her feelings about going away for college in Keeping Close to Home: Class and Education. She took her first plane ride to Stanford University where she received her bachelor’s degree. She examines and challenges intertwined assumptions about race, class, and academia. She talks about her parents along with her own feelings about leaving home and how being underprivileged at a university where most people are privileged can cause one to think hard about the decision they have made. She is credible in using ethos by giving her personal experience as an undergraduate at Stanford, and logos to connect to the audience by…
* In your own words, describe what academic integrity is and why it is important for students at Ashford University to uphold the highest of standards.…
In the beginning of the essay, Epstein presents the "moral puzzle" (459) which he has set for himself. Should he expel a student who has written racial slurs on the walls of a dorm hallway? When first considering the issue, most people would have no qualms choosing the option of expulsion. But as the essay progresses, readers are introduced to the many factors which keeps the author from making a rash decision that could affect a student's life in a large way, which in turn makes the reader think about and understand how the not expel" option can be supported. Epstein expresses some strong emotions when thinking about his first reaction to the situation. Statements like "I expect my reactions would be something like this: rage zeal for reformation " and "my emotions boil at the prospect of having to share a campus with such bad apples in it" (459)…
In the article titled, “Colleges Should Censor Racist Hate Speech,” (Virginia Law Review, March 1990) Daryl Brown concludes that colleges should censor hate speech on campus and the prominence of blatant and subtle racism on campus will require a two prong…
This article shows the basic development of a young adult’s social life beginning with a simple circle of friends or a clique and the attachment that became stronger as one grow fonder of the people around her which is exactly what she faces in her experience in Yale where it was mentioned in paragraph three, “Yale is full of tiny circle we pull around ourselves”. She found that even though not everyone knows everyone, there is still unity and a sense of togetherness among the students in Yale. She also added that the experienced they shared among themselves were priceless and unforgettable and that she felt safe and loved whenever in the company of her peers during her time in Yale.…
The Question behind the Question addresses personal accountability: one of the more important issues in today’s business and society. The lack of personal responsibility is resulting in an epidemic of complaining, procrastination, and blame. The Question behind the Question is insightful, practical, and unique.…
The culture of the Snyder-Phillips dorm, in my observation, appears to be different where it concerns race relative to minorities. My analysis is in comparison to the atmosphere of Shaw Hall, which is where I presently reside. From my perspective, the treatment of minorities, mainly African Americans, isn’t appropriate compared to the way non-minorities are treated. I have witnessed African Americans in the Snyder-Phillips dorm being regularly avoided by Caucasian students while at the same time I have seen non-minority groups gravitate towards people who are similar to their social background.…