Summary Of Michael S. Roth's Beyond The University

Times have changed in today’s world or this is at least what most adults tell me about my generation. They think my generation gets treated differently and the world is more lenient towards us. The day I turned sixteen years old my parents told me to get a job not because I should learn the value of a dollar but to learn a strong work ethic. They taught me to believe that having a strong worth ethic will set me up for success in my future. Charlotte Kent, professor of English at Mercy College believes in strict syllabus with high expectations to shape her students and help prepare them for their future outside the classroom. In Michael S. Roth’s book Beyond the University, there were many critiques and arguments about the purpose of education
by different educational theorist. Kent specifically critiques education by explaining the importance of having a good work ethic. While theorist in Roth’s book make arguments about education in a different light. Educational theorist such as W.E.B. Dubois, Jane Addams and William James make arguments somewhat different than Kent. They have their different beliefs when it comes to education but at the end of the day while the have different arguments they all four believe in success of a student.
In Charlotte Kent’s article, To Solve the Skills Gap in Hiring, Create Expectations in the Classroom, she has strict beliefs and expectations of her students in the classroom. She has no tolerance for any students who are late, absent or miss work. She believes they are responsible for themselves and their work. Her syllabus has many indications of what she expects out of her students during the semester. Kent believes her rules exist for a reason. Employers are reporting that their employees have “little deficit in basic reading, writing, and math skills” (Kent). Employers are looking for employees to be organized, self-motived, and punctual and presenting a strong work ethic. Employees have the skills but have a low performance level. They know how to do their job but they do not act like it.
Charlotte Kent was first a medical publisher and she was responsible for hiring in her division. She saw this issue at first hand, this is why she believes that people will success if they have a strong work ethic. Having a strong work ethnic will set you up for success which can be rewarded with bonuses, raises, promotions and even more opportunities. If you did not show a strong work ethnic you can face consequences. Kent believes that if professors give their students extensions and even extra credit this is a disservice towards them. Kent explains that students are so used to second chances then when they get to her class they are surprised by her rules. Her rules are for training and will help students in their careers. Theses values learned in the classroom can be taken outside to the real world.
One educational theorist from Michael S. Roth’s book is W.E.B. Dubois. He was born in Massachusetts right around the time the Civil War ended. He had many degrees from prestigious universities; he was a professor and a historian who wrote sociology. Dubois believes “education was a path to freedom” (Roth 67). Education prepares the student for their future in the real world. His ideas are very similar to Kent’s ideas. She also believes that her teaching style will prepare the student for their future. Dubois mentions something I think is extremely important, “Education must not simply teach work- it must teach life” (Roth 70). Again, this ties in so closely to what Kent believes in. She wants to teach her students life lessons. Kent thinks if she sets strict rules such as no late work this will teach them a bigger lesson in life. She wants to teach students to have a different attitude and Dubois strongly believes in teaching life. While Kent thinks attitudes are important lesson in life, this one example of what Dubois thinks should be taught. Charlotte Kent is certainly teaching life in her classroom.
Another theorist that grew up around the same time as Dubois mentioned by Roth in his book was Jane Addams.
Addams grew up during in post-Reconstruction America. Growing up she had a dream to be in the medical field but her father had other ideas for her. She did not have an easy early life and has she got older it did not get any easier. She eventually lost her father then was diagnosed with a nervous disorder. She continued education and traveled, discovering her life’s work. Addams believed that “social progress would become possible through affectionate interpretation” this means seeing the point of view from others when there is a major difference. (Roth 84). While this argument is not exactly what Kent arguments, I can see her agreeing with Addams. Kent mentions in her article that “people know how to do jobs; they don’t act like it.” I see her agreeing with Addams because she believes people should see things from the point of views of others. Employees should understand what a work ethic means. They should see the point of view from their employer and know they have the skills but they need the performance to match. I think Kent would appreciate Addams
beliefs.

A third theorist in Roth’s book, who was a great fan of Addams, was William James.
He was born twenty years before the Civil War started in Geneva, London. James loved science but first studied paint. Then he went on the medical school then became a professor at Harvard. Alongside his curiosity about ideas, he suffered from depression. James believes that “the point of learning is not to arrive at truths, that somehow match up with reality. The point of learning is to acquire better ways of coping with the world, better ways for the world as it is” (Roth 88). His points relate back to what Kent believes strongly about. She follows exactly what James is saying. Kent is having strict rules and setting higher standards in her classroom because she wants her students to be able to cope better in the world. Kent says, “I have to explain to the class and individuals why my rules are actually part of the training that college provides to help them in their eventual careers” (Kent). She admits that she does this to help her students in the wrong run. William James believes that if liberal education teaches students to understand how to deal and function in the world. While James’s belief might not match up side by side with Kent’s idea, they somehow make similar
sense.

In conclusion, the arguments seem all over the place but once you dig deeper they all connect in at least one way. Charlotte Kent believes in a stricter rules and expectations. I agree with her teaching style because it teaches skills that can be taken outside the classroom. By not accepting any late work will hopefully teach the student a bigger lesson. Kent wants students to learn more than just what you expect to learn in a classroom, she wants to set up her students to take on life and most importantly succeed. W.E.B. Dubois, Jane Addams and William James with their arguments all believe in success. While they all express their beliefs differently, they all believe in the importance of education. They know there is more than one style of teaching but they believe in so much more than the average skills expected. Education was always and will always be criticized.