Outside of our families there is arguably no greater source of our political socialization than schools. And the reality of schools in America is mixed. Many have focused on the falling ranking of American K-12 education with respect to the rest of the world. We will discuss some of this in class. For now, however, I would like you to focus on higher education. There is no doubt that we have a huge number of high paying jobs in America that do not have enough sufficiently trained applicants to fill available jobs. There are also a number of debates and controversies focused on higher education that are very relevent to broader discussions of American political culture today. You should explore recent debates about controversies on college campuses including whether they are too politically correct or not and how views about the benefits of going to college have changed a lot and some reasons why. There is the discussion of the cost of college and whether the state or federal government should get involved. You can start the discussion by answering any of the prompts below:
- What are the most important challenges pertaining to higher education in America today?
- How do you think the experience of higher education affects our perceptions of politics or political culture?
- How has being in college affected your view of American society or American politics?
- Do you think colleges are too politically correct?
Be sure to reply to your classmates posts as much as possible and start an online discussion, instead of simply answering the question prompts individually.
The biggest problem pertaining to higher education in the United States today is undoubtedly its cost and the subsequent inequality of access to it. I personally believe all young people should be able and encouraged to pursue a college education, regardless of career trajectory, as I find that the discussions and experiences I’ve had in classes and on campus over the past few years have been invaluable to my growth into a full-grown adult person, and everyone should have this same opportunity. Of course, this ideal is certainly utopian and reasonably unlikely in my lifetime, but I think the first step needs to be changing people’s minds about the role of a college education. Given its exorbitant cost, students and families have no other option than to think of it as an investment on which you require a ‘return,’ in the form of a job that will cover the debt you incurred to receive the education. I think we can do better for coming generations.
ReplyDeleteEmma, I totally agree with you. It really is insane how much higher education costs, especially private higher education. It seems like these institutions and the government has no problem profiting off of young peoples' debt and there are no ways to regulate this. I agree that the cost of higher education makes it even less accessible to certain groups of people. Historically higher ed served elite, rich, white men. Certain functions of the system seem to still carry this elitist ideology. While progressive discussions happen on college campuses, I do not think they are "politically correct." Most conversations I've had in my college experience have had many opinions and views represented. And although progressive conversations happen, they are overwhelmingly had by middle and upper class white people. More accessibility to higher education allows for a more diverse student body, in turn leading to more well-rounded and interesting conversations. I also think the point you brought up about how college is now viewed as a means to getting a job says a lot about our capitalist culture. Do we really value learning, or do we value skilled workers?
DeleteYes I agree with Emma and Audrey because the cost of higher education is getting ridiculous. Young people are just paying and paying because they think have no other option. There are more people in college and there is less jobs available for graduates. and everyone is in debt.
DeleteI think that not only are colleges not too politically correct, but that they are not politically correct enough. I feel that the reasons presented in the Vox article written by Cameron Okeke should be explanation enough. After all, who better to explain the power and impact of safe spaces on campuses than a marginalized student? These are the voices we should be listening to when having the PC argument - the voices who are actually impacted by it. And though his article was about UChicago, we need look no further than our own university to understand the consequences of “academic freedom” being held in a higher esteem than the wellbeing of it’s students. When just last year, Professor Jason Hill published his words of hatred about Palestinians and Mexicans, the higher-ups of DePaul defended it under the guise of academic freedom. But our students were harmed. And that is where the line regarding academic freedom should be drawn - where words have negative and real-life impacts on the people who are being discussed. In the PC argument, the defense often calls for students to be exposed to different “perspectives” and “beliefs.” But I hold that there is a point when a “perspective” or “belief” is just a cover word for racism, homophobia/transphobia, Islamophobia, sexism, etc., and should no longer be allowed to be heard. And such a “perspective” or “belief” should certainly not get to masquerade as an opportunity for student growth.
ReplyDeleteTo some extent, I agree with you Ally! The voices of students matter extremely but the question I want to ask you is which students get a say on the issues and how do we decide? With Jason Hill's op-ed, I do agree that the choice of words came off targeted at a certain group (the Palestinians) but at times, I truly feel campus progressives want some voices to be heard and not others. The Jewish community should also speak up when they feel necessary but because of the magnitude of Palestinian voices, I personally feel that the perspectives of Jewish students cannot be heard and that a sense of anti-semitism has emerge on college campuses because of the competition between the Pro-Israel and Pro-Palestinian idealogical debate. I also think the reactions from students could have varied and instead of protesting and causing a scene, students could have gotten the reasoning for why Jason Hill wrote what he did civically so they could have understood the other side of the issue rather than boxing it off and leading to a slippery slope of "racism." I am by no means saying that the words of Jason Hill should have been taken lightly but simply implying that the situation could have been handled differently and ultimately, the emotions involved did not allow students to understand the argument he was trying to present. A pragmatic approach would have helped diffuse the situation much quickly and reasonably. Nonetheless, I still agree that the rhetoric instilled by Hill could have utilized more euphemistic and proper language to describe a group of individuals. -Olivia Piotrowski
DeleteHi, Olivia! I see what you're saying. I will partially agree with your notion that "campus progressives want some voices to be heard and not others" - we do not want voices like Jason Hill's to be heard. That's for certain. But I disagree that Jewish students are part of that group that campus progressives do not want heard. At the rally in protest of Hill's words and the University's failure to act, Matthew Charnay, the head of the DePaul Jewish Life Community, was invited to speak, and received rapturous applause. At that rally, many Jewish, Palestinian, and other students stood together and cried out against Hill's hateful, racist, Orientalist rhetoric. Antisemitism should never have a place anywhere, of course, so it is important to examine the difference between antisemitism and criticism of the Israeli state and it's actions. The latter is not antisemitic. Such an argument is disrespectful because it negates the meaning of antisemitism, something which is a real and horrible problem today. Jewish students should have their voices heard about the issue, so long as they are not being disrespectful of Palestinians. I have not heard any Palestinian student say that the Jews don't have a right to live in that area, so I am hopeful that Jewish students would similarly understand the right of Palestinians to live on the same land. So long as they do not call for the obliteration of the Palestinians (as Jason Hill has), there is no reason why Jewish student's voices should not be or are not heard. I think it is problematic to be "Pro" Palestine or Israel, because both lands have peoples who deserve homes and security. We just can't afford to forget that Israel has the power of statehood, which comes with international recognition, government power, a military, clear borders, and other advantages which render their actions deserving of critique. It is not antisemitic to condemn the government's horrifying actions against Palestinians, just as it is not anti-Palestinian or Islamophobic to condemn actions taken by Palestinians to harm Israelis. Jason Hill's article, along with not having any fact based reasoning, was blatantly racist, and should be condemned as such. I believe that a rally was necessary, and also effective. News crews came out to tell our story and shortly afterwards, a panel of faculty did censure Hill, which was one of our demands. We actually did try to organize a panel for him to speak, as you suggested, but he declined, instead taking to the internet and Tucker Carlson's show to speak about the criticism he received. In essence, we tried the "pragmatic" approach and were denied. And either way, I hold to this day that there was no "other side" to the issue. Hill's words spoke for themselves - "not all cultures are indeed equal. Some are abysmally inferior and regressive based on their comprehensive philosophy and fundamental principles," and "should a regional conflict between Israel and her Arab neighbors emerge, Israel will need to demonstrate extraordinary, excessive, and unprecedented military might in a manner that can act as a deterrent and, if necessary, to irrevocably destroy her offensive enemies." His argument was clear, and his argument was that Israel can and should eliminate the Palestinians, or in Hill's words, "political ballasts," who reside there. I do not respect anyone who calls for such an annexation of peoples, and emphatically hold that their voices should not be heard.
DeleteThe most important challenges pertaining to higher education in America to me has to do with accessibility and content. I completely agree with Emma, I think that the way in which higher education is thought of in the US is very limiting. The idea that higher ed is an investment that will eventually cover the debt of college is quite American. Personally, I feel that higher ed in the US is thought of as a way to get a job, but rarely thought of as a way to strengthen one’s own thought processes. I think that even if someone were to go to a fairly “liberal” university they would still see that most of the readings, lectures and overall content are all executed through a very specific lens. This lense is often eurocentric, westernized, white, and is likely not representative of those who go to most colleges across the US. I often find that those who write the history we read or the theories we study are white European male figures; perhaps the fact that these figures were the only ones given access to the material to write history is unchangeable today, but I think it’s the universities’ job to enlighten students with the knowledge on why these writers/historians/etc were in the position to write what one studies today. I think that the issue of content is overall relevant within academia in general-- if the only thinkers students are reading about are white, are they actually getting the full scope of ideas/experiences/thoughts? I completely agree with the writer of the article about safe spaces at UChicago, the word “diversity” within any advertisement for a university is troubling to me. One of the issues I find with universities and overall academic institutions is that they may boast about the diversity within the student body but do not always talk about diversity within the faculty and staff.
ReplyDeleteAfter listening to the episode of Revisionist History, I think that Lourdes provides important context to the conversation regarding higher education in the US. I think that there is a very direct link between the material covered at most universities and the demographics of those student bodies. Malcolm Gladwell points out that these kids who are making it to college are the ones who are afforded multiple, if not unlimited, opportunity to succeed. I think that this indicates the necessity of a major societal shift in how Americans think about education and our nation as a meritocracy. I can point to my own college experience as an example of this inequity. Upon reflection, I have been afforded multiple opportunities that I know my peers have been deprived of. While it is easy to point at the faults of higher education, I think that the issue starts much earlier. UChicago has produced a lot of research attempting to pinpoint where intervention would be most beneficial to low-income and minority students. I wanted to include the link to the Thirty Million Words project (https://cri.uchicago.edu/portfolio/thirty-million-words/), so named because research has shown that by the time lower income students reach pre-school, or age four, they have heard thirty million less words than their wealthier counterparts. This language gap has profound impacts to these children’s academic abilities, and often, they are not properly served by public education. Unfortunately, making education equitable and creating a true meritocracy is much more complicated that curriculum reform in the existing school structure.
DeleteAmy Wasowicz
Hi Amy! I think your point is really important within the context of education in the US! language is something we haven't really covered in class yet but I think that the point you're making is very important in terms of understanding accessibility of content within academia! Often low-income and minority students are not familiar with as many words as their upper middle class peers, and this may explain why some "academic texts" are often written with complex, often esoteric language. I definitely think that making education equitable requires widespread reform within the educational system, but I do think that curriculum reform stands at the center of the issues.
DeleteThe biggest threat to the American education is the lack of diversity in faculty, students, and teachings. I agree with Lourdes’ argument that many of the teachings presented in college classes come from white European men. Students are only receiving one perspective of an issue limiting themselves from viewing the matter from a different perspective. We live in a diverse society yet when it comes to the environment of colleges. They are typically white students.There are many reasons that are contributing to this issue; high cost of college and poor education that students receive that prevents them from being accepted to a university. Colleges need to diversify in order to reflect the current society we live in. This must also be done with the faculty. Having a diverse faculty means introduction to new concepts from a new perspective. During my time at DePaul, I had a professor who was Hispanic. She brought in articles from Latinx writers, which was very useful in understanding the topic. She also used her own life examples to which she tied it into the topic of the class. Diversity in education is very important since it expands our knowledge.
DeleteI think the experience of higher education affects our perception of politics and political culture in a positive way. From my experience, I see college as a platform to learn the staples and details of politics. From the information, you learn, and opinions you read; you are then able to form an idea of your own. Being in college, my view of American Politics was affected in many ways. Through readings and courses, I have been able to learn much more than I ever would on my own about American politics and questioned a lot of the “norms” of American society. As for political correctness, I think it is hard to be completely unbiased; however, I think colleges are not politically correct enough. I feel classes should always be given all political viewpoints even when the majority may not agree. When learning about American politics, learning all sides is essential in getting a well-rounded education, so you can make an informed decision of where you stand.
ReplyDeleteMaureen, I couldn't agree more. My blog post had a very similar idea as yours. I feel one of biggest issues that we have in America especially regarding our political system is ignorance. I feel this is the real issue especially within our political systems and the ideas that trickle down to us in society, This causes people to seem bias but in reality. they are just ignorant to certain facts. The fear of offending people gets in the way of our education and which ideologies we are taught.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe most pertaining issues in higher education is the lack of a collaborative space where politics can be discussed. I agree with Maureen that higher education does in fact impact our understanding of politics. We live in a culture, where we learn about politics by scrolling on Twitter or Facebook. These of course are not reliable platforms that should hold influence before our society. Besides, the social platforms, there are political groups or leaders that express their philosophies. For instance, some students are displeased with the arrival of Ben Shairpo to deliver a speech on campus. However, colleges should be a place where all political thoughts have an opportunity to express their ideologies in a professional manner. This discussion leads to an educated society that knows how to collaborate despite having opposing views. If we only hear one side of the story, we will never reach an informed educated decision.College should be a place where ideas can be exposed and talked. Furthermore, having political correctness is a difficult challenge. However, with the right collaboration from staff, professors, and students colleges can have a safe and educational space. These issues need to be discussed with a group of diverse students with different backgrounds, ethnicity, experience, etc.. To deny certain groups to express their thoughts would be a violation of their freedom to speak. However, this freedom should be taken with great responsibility. College should focus on teaching students to take their privilege of speech with responsibility.
ReplyDeleteThe first most important challenge pertaining to higher education in American today is when you have immigrant parents like myself. Both of my parents, who only obtained education up until the fourth grade, created not only a challenge for myself but a setback. I was never able to ask my parents about my homework assignments that I did not understand nor when it came to any sorts of applications. But other than personal challenges, financial aid is a huge challenge. FAFSA does not help nor benefit a lot people, especially undocumented students who wish to percieve higher education but can not afford it- let alone without having any grants nor loans. Higher education affects the perceptions of politics or political culture in both negative and positive ways. But the overall goal is to become more educated on our government in order to make decisions such as voting.
ReplyDeleteMe being in college has affected my view of American society and American politics in a somewhat negative way. Not only am I being exposed all the corruptness of our government but I discover the history of it and the oppression it either caused or went through. I do not think college are too politically correct because at the end of the day, every professor lecturing on politics will hold a biased value whether it is prominent or not.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI think some of the other comments above have given a laundry list of the challenges that are plaguing prospective college students as well as current college students. While we can agree that education should be a right for children in the United States, somehow college has morphed into a luxury that only the wealthiest percentage of the population is able to afford. However, the price tag that comes with a college education has not changed the value that many place on having a college degree. Naturally, this has weeded out those who are unable to afford or have easy access to college and college preparation materials from easily excelling in academic professions. After listening to the episode of Revisionist History assigned for today, I realized how important accessibility is and how simply waiving fees and costs of application materials and even tuition can not simply solve this problem. I found it interesting that Malcolm Gladwell explained that these motivators are great, but the changes they are making are minuscule in relevance to the issue as a whole. In order for children from disadvantaged communicates to be put on the same playing field as those who come from more privileged areas, it is necessary for these children to have advocates (like Eric) to help them get out of their current situation. So, there really is no way to work your way out of a situation similar to Carlos' without some sort of outside assistance and that example as a whole is one of the main challenges of the way higher education currently functions.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteKate, I think that your point in saying that kids like Carlos need outside help is completely valid. One way in which kids like Carlos could be helped more is through service. Last year in the Stu, I saw a flier that was looking for DePaul students to help high school seniors in Little Village through providing SAT/ACT tutoring and college essay revision help. I thought that it was really inspiring to see people wanting to help and believe that more awareness should be brought to efforts to help under-resourced communities.
DeleteThe experience of higher education has affected my view on American politics and its culture in a positive way. From personal experience I have seen college as a kick in the face being exposed to a higher education were subjects are no longer “sugar quoted” can be a culture shock, but I have enjoyed it being in college has given me a platform to learn and gain knowledge on how my country's political system was built. How us as students can have a large impact on it, we have the opportunity to change it; we are the future. Being able to receive an education and make change within your country is something college has taught me Regarding the level of political correctness within higher education institutions. I feel that they tend to be too politically correct. Students expect to learn about politics from various points, but rather we tend to be taught from one microscopic point to prevent argument against what the majority agrees with. We should be taught all points to better prepare us when we face real world issues.
ReplyDeleteMy view of American society after experiencing my college career so far, is a very critical look at our country and its people. K-12 education has a lot of students falling in love with our great state and nation. Our countless battles and wars with many victories. There is not a very critical outlook upon the United States and its people, much like a college atmosphere. I think this is largely due to the international backgrounds that exist at higher level educational environments. Not every professor or student is American. Some may be in the United States on a Visa to be able to be educated overseas. The level of interactivity between domestic and international students as well as general human experiences that people have had overseas, leads to a criticism of Americans from an outside perspective. Whether it be criticisms of our culture, or the cost of university, people who don't identify themselves as Americans are critical of the regional hegemon that isn't just know for its victories overseas, but rather, how this great big state and its people have failed the world in many different aspects. From lagging behind in the chase on environmental protection, to military superiority across the globe that is not always loved in every area they are in.
ReplyDeleteDo you think colleges are too politically correct?
Colleges themselves are conservative, business savvy institutions that are looking to please the majority of people who attend their campuses, which are "politically correct." PC populations are sometimes conscious enough to realize that when a number of safe spaces are created for the general population by a machine that really doesn't care about their PC politics, it may not be the big change that group of individuals were looking for. The case with Professor Jason Hill is a perfect example of PC politics attempting to try and fire a professor for expressing their right to free speech. The institution is fully aware that they cannot fire an individual based on expressing their individual freedoms, but rather, the PC population of colleges lack the background and actual knowledge behind their claims of hate and "calls for action." This post alone might trigger some who consider themselves politically correct. Most people who wouldn't call themselves PC, are probably PC themselves.
While there are many challenges pertaining to higher education today, there remain some more deeply institutionalized and more deeply impactful than others. In the Revisionist History podcast that we listened to for Tuesday, the speaker explored a middle school, Lenox, which is quite representative of many low-income public schools in the United States. At this school, there was a surprising number of low-income, gifted students, despite limited resources. Yet, most of them became disinterested, gang-affiliated or for a variety of other reasons, dropped out (at least mentally) by the eighth grade. And although some came out successful on the other side, it could almost always be attributed to the intervention of some outside advocate. With that said, if children in low-income neighborhoods are attending middle and high school at low rates, how can we expect them to aspire toward higher education. Often times, it is not simply that schools in low income neighborhoods lack resources, but that school is often put on the back burner when other obstacles arise. When children and teens are facing their own internal, familial and societal struggles, it is near impossible to be fully invested in school. Higher education is not only financially overbearing, but emotionally and mentally as well. And more than that, the pathway toward higher education is much better paved for some school districts than others. In more affluent school districts, where higher education is expected and where students are less likely to become disinterested due to outside obstacles (though of course they do still happen), college preparation courses and materials are provided throughout students’ primary and secondary education. On the other hand, in school districts where higher education is much less common and where dropout rates are high, there often begins a vicious cycle, with less and less encouragement toward higher education. And with higher education having become such a vital instrument to so many jobs today, this vicious cycle persists.
ReplyDeleteWhen looking at the challenges that surround higher education in America, it is hard to choose just one issue that wins the award of "most challenging." However, like Lourdes, I believe the biggest challenge pertaining to higher education has to to with accessability. Cost aside, going to college is simply not attainable for some youths and families. Higher education further contributes to the systematic inequality American citizens are facing today. Even if students were not expected to pay tuition, there are so many other obstacles facing those who are low income, perhaps the biggest being that while in school, they cannot work a full time job and help support their families. Furthermore, there is a plethora of different ideas about whether or not college is actually worth it. As a middle class white american whose mother has a PhD, college was always ingrained in me. I started going on college visits when I was in eighth grade. That is not the case for many families. Parents who do not understand the benefits of college may not encourage their children to apply, which then could further disadvantage them in the future. In order to continue the American philosophy of equality, higher education must be made more affordable and accessable for all families, regardless of income or socioeconomic status.
ReplyDeleteAs most in this blog post have mentioned, I also believe the extreme costs of college play a factor in the decision making of high school students. Nevertheless, the perception I have noticed in regards to higher education and politics relates to how it provides access and connections to reaching top job positions. Particularly, political culture epitomizes the role of a college education since most renowned politicians and lawyers, as seen through the media such as FOX or CNN, gained their status through higher education. In a sense, this implies that if anyone who wishes to have such a prestige occupation in the political sphere MUST attend a university. This also reflects the composition of the Senate and House since nearly all congressional representatives have a higher degree or a doctoral. All in all, to work in politics, that degree is crucial but this is where the money factor comes in. Many astute and brilliant low-income students have difficulty branching out of their social environment such as the case with “Carlos” on the podcast, “Carlos doesn’t remember.” That one scenario speaks volumes for so many marginalized kids who can impact the world but because of their lack of wealth and family situations, they must endure adversity when they should have the ability to change and/or eliminate it! At times, I question my own conservative views on the economic capitalist system because it really does favor the top 1% rather than providing the needs to well-deserving individuals who cannot choose the circumstances of their birth. On the flip side, if colleges did not cost ANYTHING, competition would skyrocket since every person would have access and too many jobs would be given away, leaving the vocational careers in shortage. Where is the middle ground in this situation? My personal view is if a college student shows their talents and graduates, the government should cover their debt and provide the high-achiever with a reward (meanwhile, in the process, an incentive to do well so they do not procure all that debt). -Olivia Piotrowski
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone above that one of the largest challenges pertaining to higher education is cost. There’s no doubt in my mind that the exponential increase in the cost of attendance to universities has created a substantial barrier for many Americans. To add on to that, I also think there’s an issue in the fact that four-year colleges are so much more costly than technical schools. This is even more concerning when both of these institutions offer degrees for the same jobs. A good example of this is nursing. Since it’s such a booming career field, a student can become a licensed nurse by either attending a tradidional, four-year college or a three-year program at a tech school. It seems to make the most financial sense to just go to a technical college. Despite this logic, many, I’d even guess the majority of students still choose to go to a four-year college and take on hefty student loans. This is a result of job competition, which I don’t think there’s much of a solution for. However, I do think it’s an issue that many students are faced with a situation where they have to decide to either go to a tech school because it’s the cheaper option or go to a traditional college and take on significant student debt in hopes of being more likely to get a job. Again, I’m unsure of a solution to this, but I think the difference in cost between these two institutions is worth paying attention to.
ReplyDeleteWhile I think the higher education is flawed in multiple ways, I would like to focus on accessibility being one of the most visible, yet arguably unchanging, challenge for students and their families. As we have read, there have been many different views on what role education plays in the United States and how much emphasis should be placed on the importance of it. No one person has a completely perfect perspective on the very complex topic of education, but I agree with Horace Mann’s point of view when he looks at education as an institution and practice that can benefit not only society as a whole, but the individuals that live in it and comprise it. With this mindset, I think it is easier to realize that everyone, no matter what background they come from, deserves a truly fair chance at gaining knowledge from schooling institutions, especially higher education. Unfortunately, the means of actually reaching the point of equity and equality within universities and colleges is a less clear. A simple solution to the accessibility issue non-existent because of how many factors goes into higher education and the process of enrolling in it and managing it, but also because of the institutionalized and historical inequality that the U.S is unfortunately entangled with. The way this country deals with (or fails the effectively address) inequality makes it increasingly hard for low income students and families, often times people of color, to pay for the incredibly high tuition rates and fees that come with going to college. If, somehow, policymakers were able to keep the original and true goals of education in mind, then maybe laws or regulations could be put into place that could benefit not only the individual receiving the education they deserve, but also society because of that individual’s future contributions.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest problem pertaining to higher education in the United States is the cost and teaching levels of education. Young people like me tent to pay whatever it cost for them to get there education. This is good because this encourages the younger people to stay in school and finish their education, however, the students are not being taught for what they paid for. For example, the tuition just keeps going up for the same among of educations. I remember my father telling me that 10 years ago, most colleges were 50% percent less than they are nowadays. The reason why I think that this is happening because the government and schools just want the students to keep paying for colleges but the students are not actually learning what they suppose to learn about. This mostly compares to the middle and lower class people who can’t keep paying for the same content and the same material that has been taught in high school or the first few years in colleges. Going further, the experience of higher education does affect our political culture because why go to class and discussion about topics or news that we already see on social media. I think Colleges should teach the students what needs to be taught not what should be taught.
ReplyDeleteHi Aseal,
DeleteI agree with you that some may think school is not necessary to discuss political topics when you can get that from social media. It is important that colleges consider this and strategize ideas that will separate their class discussions to the ones we see on social media.
Like Lourdes and a couple others mentioned, I believe that one of the biggest challenges the United States faces is the question of how accessible higher education truly is. I personally think that I got really lucky because I went to high school in the suburbs that had teachers and counselors that were helpful in telling me to apply for FAFSA and even had this spreadsheet in which I was able to see the different competitive external scholarships that I was eligible for applying. Even though, I found that at times counselors and teachers were overworked with revising student essays and meeting with several students during the college admissions season and thought there were ways in which my school could help more kids, it wasn’t until after college started and heard about my other classmates’ experiences that I realized how lucky I truly was. Then, this pushed me to ask myself the question of what would have happened if I wouldn’t have had supportive teachers guiding me and motivating me throughout this very definitive time of my life. It is foolish to say that every single kid has the same resources in navigating the college process. Regarding the way higher education can affect our politics and political culture, I think that it is really interesting how the Pew Research Center in 2016 found that “highly educated adults, especially those who have attended graduate school far more likely than those with less education to take predominantly liberal positions across a range of political values. The differences have increased in the past two decades.” Here is the linkhttps://www.people-press.org/2016/04/26/a-wider-ideological-gap-between-more-and-less-educated-adults/. This shows us how education and the level of education a person pursues can have an effect on shaping a person’s political stances which can explain why political polarization has become an issue.
ReplyDeleteI love that you bring up that the accessibility of colleges goes far beyond jus the cost. Even if lower-income students are able to obtain acceptances and scholarships, the college search is extraordinarily complex and hard to navigate under many circumstances. This shows to me at least that tuition free college may not be the ultimate solution.
DeleteThe biggest challenge facing higher education is easily the cost of it. Tuition rates as a whole just keep rising, and that makes attending university farther out of reach for people. However, in this period of time having a bachelor’s degree is essentially required for any sort of job. People do not have any other choice than to take out ridiculous amounts of student loans just to get something everyone needs, and that’s not right. People shouldn’t be bound to debt for years after completing a degree. Higher education is an important experience, and it has definitely refined my political beliefs and how I view the world as a whole. Some of it was personal research and some of it was in class, but I’ve learned a lot more on American history and our political system along with its many institutions. Knowledge shapes beliefs, and I’ve simply learned more in college. Factoring in my own experiences, I do not think colleges are too politically correct. I think the general narrative around political correctness is falsely constructed by the right to paint liberals as being “soft” or that we “can’t handle anything”. I also think the argument that colleges are too politically correct is meant to diminish the credibility of liberal college-aged people. This is quite damaging and all this does is further polarize our population.
ReplyDeleteThe utmost challenge pertaining to higher education is how unaffordable it is. It is a challenge that I hope to see change sometime in the near future. I believe that the cost of higher education is unnecessary and ridiculous. All people deserve the right to at least a two-year, public higher education as the benefits are absolutely essential to having a professional career, should it be required. My experience in being a college student has personally changed my perspective of American society in that I am extremely privileged to attend a private higher education institution on a scholarship when most people my age are not able to attend university in general. Where I am from, it has been normalized that everyone go to school for a degree, and if not, that person is the odd man out. I believe that if there were a way for students to be guaranteed tuition-free two-year public higher education, perspectives about the politics of education could possibly be changed in a positive manner.
ReplyDeleteJane Pallos
DeleteThe most important challenge pertaining to higher education in America today is definitely the cost. The cost of going to a university has more people debating whether the benefits of getting a degree outweigh the cost of having huge debts to pay off , this makes attending college unattainable for a lot of people who don't have the money and instead directly enter the workforce. The experience of college educates you to be more informed about politics and political culture. There is opportunity for thoughtful discussions with classmates that allow for various opinions to be considered. I think the University you go to affect what lens you view American society and politics. Attending a primarily liberal college like DePaul the dominant philosophy you often hear and are influenced by is the liberal one. Younger people also tend to follow the progressive and liberal ideologies. Sharing the same beliefs as my peers is a great opportunity to rally behind issues that matter to us and affect our future leaving college. Although, I do think that colleges are too focused on being politically correct. I am not saying that we shouldn’t have safe spaces or be respectful to people’s choices, gender, religion, etc... I am saying that everyone should be able to say whatever they want. As a libertarian, complete free speech should the main priority and if we are focused on being too politically correct by default we are excluding some people from being able to freely speak their mind and options, even if we don’t agree with them.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you that a key factor why higher education is becoming more problematic is due to the growing financial burden it would bring towards individuals. I also agree that people speaking their minds is a basic right that all institutions should respect however it is not politically correct to make an institution a tolerable place for all.
DeleteAs I previously and outspokenly stated in blog posts or in class is that Bernie Sanders is my hero. Why? He is not scared of telling the American people about problems they are facing and how to find solutions to them. One of his key problems and solutions is the difficulty to Americans to receive a higher education due to the financial burden they would bring on them. Another obstacle facing people is that even after they graduate they find themselves in debt and at times it takes a while for them to find a steady income job. This has become a hallmark talking point in modern politics. From presidential candidates suggesting to forgive student debt to simply making public colleges free and private colleges more affordable for students. I see that in today's society there are much more opportunities for college graduates than those who could not attend college for personal matters. As a result I see how this society is manly shaped for those who go to college whereas life will be hell for those who could not go to college simply because of the financial burden. Colleges at times could be too politically correct due to the growing diversity in our society and the changing standards society is facing however it is politically correct so that their environment is a tolerable society of all.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the two most important challenges pertaining to higher education in American are the accessibility and cost. In many cities around the nation, the education system is way below sufficient. If these young students are not being educated properly, then they will have a very hard time getting on the path to a higher education. I believe that, currently, a college education is geared towards fortune individuals that have a chance at social mobility. This is extremely unjust. College should be accessible to everyone, regardless of the circumstances you were born into. In addition, the cost of college is absurd. Many individuals across the nation desperately desire a college education, but can not afford it. I strongly believe that the cost of college should be the last thing stopping someone from attending. I also believe that higher education affects our perceptions of politics in a variety of ways. Most importantly, the development of critical thinking skills allows college students to make educated decisions about the political climate. Rather than basing their opinions on assumptions or the media, I believe college allows one to make more informed decisions. Personally, I think college has exposed me to numerous diverse opinions. In turn, I have had the ability to obtain new perspectives on various topics and become an overall better and stronger individual. I do not think colleges are too politically correct. I believe that the more politically correct an institution is, the more they foster and promote diversity and inclusion. It is important for colleges to be informed about social issues and take the necessary steps to implement change.
ReplyDeleteI think that one of the single most important challenge pertaining to higher education in America today is the cost. The tens of thousands of dollars often necessary for a college degree is an extreme barrier to entry, even when lower-income students are receiving scholarships. In my experience personally, I was actually accepted to my top school with a $20,000 scholarship but if I had gone there I would have still been in over $200,000 of debt by graduation—so I couldn’t justify going, despite potentially better opportunities. On this point, it is clear that opportunity is not equally distributed when it comes to higher education. I was fortunate enough to still be able to attend any 4-year university, but this isn’t even the case for many due to financial circumstances.
ReplyDeleteThe experience of higher education has done a good deal to broaden my worldview and overall view of society. People often claim that college makes people more liberal— potentially too liberal or “politically correct,” but I actually think I had the opposite experience. I went into higher education as a “communist” with some beliefs that I now see as unfounded and uninformed. Through studying political science and economics, I have learned to found my beliefs more moderately. With this in mind, I don’t think that colleges are too politically correct but rather share political ideas that are necessarily informed and inclusive.
I believe the most important challenges pertaining to higher education in America today involve the price and accessibility of higher education. I completely agree with Kate’s point that Americans are raised to believe that education is a human right, but only up to a certain point. After K-12 school is seen as necessary to be successful, but only for people who can afford it. The experience of higher education positively affects our perceptions of politics because higher education provides a place to collectively learn and discuss politics. Attending college opens students up to people of all backgrounds and beliefs. Coming in with only a public K-12 education, I was only taught the basics and the good of American politics, so higher education opened my eyes to the rest of American political culture and history. Being in college affected my view of American society because I was exposed to so much more of it in college. I feel like I grew up in a bubble before coming to college, and now I have the opportunity to explore all of American politics.
ReplyDeleteI think some of the most important challenges pertaining to higher education is not only cost but the way it deals with this idea of an American identity. It is undeniable that student debt is an insanely high level and is a hot-button issue as 2020 nears. But higher education also needs to make the case to its opponents—that college *ISN’T* necessary to get ahead in today’s society—that they are not the elitist, ivory tower institutions that they are perceived to be. In other words, colleges need to make the case that they are not the authoritarian, language-policing institutions that some make it out to be.
ReplyDeleteThis segues in part to the question of whether or not colleges are too “politically correct.” I think the idea of political correctness in the context of higher education is extremely hyperbolized. When we’re so-called “politically correct,” we’re talking about listening to the voices of those previously unheard in both academia and society. And quite frankly, I think colleges should uplift these marginalized voices more because it is one of the very few mediums where their voices can be heard, and I think opponents of such inclusion need to realize that they will be just fine. I’m a firm believer in that there’s no such thing as “useless knowledge,” and that’s what I think how going to college impacts me the most: I’ve been exposed to a variety of viewpoints, narratives, and histories that I probably would never have learned had I decided not to go to DePaul. It has made me look at American society and politics in such a way where we do not have to de-sensitize ourselves when we hear the slightest bit of politics.
I think the most important challenges pertaining to higher education today is the cost and also its function. Higher education in the United States does not serve the same purpose it once did. The attitude toward college for many families now is that kids are expected to go whether they know what they want to do or not. However, prior to the 1950s it seems like the attitude toward college was that only the elite got to go or if someone went it meant they were extremely lucky or academically gifted. I think that college should be affordable for everyone because I believe in the power of a liberal arts education. There are clearly adults in the workforce today that do not know how to think critically or self reflect in any meaningful way, and we certainly do not learn to do that by the time we graduate high school.
ReplyDeleteBut because the function of college has changed in the past 200 years in America I think that a lot of people are wondering what its true purpose is. Is it training us for the workforce? Is it forming us into well rounded individuals who can think for ourselves? Is it wasting our money? I think it is doing all three things, and I don’t know what the true function of college is.
I do think that DePaul puts a lot of emphasis on seeming politically correct but not enough emphasis on becoming a carbon neutral or sustainable organization. I understand that creating safe spaces for minorities and educating cishet people on pronouns and other things is important but at the end of the day it all seems like a giant charade because we are still damaging the environment and a branch of the Catholic Church, which is notoriously not PC at all, despite their “woke” rebranding via Pope Francis, who is essentially a Trojan horse.
The most important challenges pertaining to higher education in America is most certainly the cost and the lack of access to education due to that cost. Not only are people who are upper-middle class able to give their children more options and financial security when it comes to college, but they are able to give their children resources that help them get into better schools. Children that are apart of an upper middle class family get resources that undeniably allow them to excel faster/easier and give them a financial safety net. In my experience, the process of applying to and being in college has really illuminated how much your family's financial status and whether your parents are college graduates affects your preparedness and your security in school. Most of the students at my highschool were from upper-middle class families and both their parents were college graduates. This made the process of applying to college very easy for them because someone was holding their hand the entire time. When I got into DePaul I met people who could only take the ACT once, that did not have a college counselor at their highschool, and whose parents could not help them with their application. The privilege that is involved in applying to college in ingrained into the system itself; the system is made for privileged people to succeed. As was evident in the Revisionist History podcast, students from lower classes - even those who are naturally gifted - are at a disadvantage because they lack the comforts that upper class lifestyle provides. Finally, I think that being PC is necessary to consider in order to protect students learning environment. Being politically correct sets a groundwork for students to respect the boundaries of their peers in classroom discussions. - Maggie Mullen
ReplyDeleteI think going to college or getting some sort of higher education definitely makes people more politically aware. A lot of the times, people who don’t go to college are going to be working in labor intensive jobs and are going to be less likely to pay attention to the news or to get a thorough understanding and education on the government and understand politics to the fullest. This isn’t to say that no one who doesn't go to college wouldn’t understand politics, just that the more education you receive, the more likely you are to pay attention to politics and understand how the government. I think by understanding these basic things, you are more likely to be able to pick a party that defines your ideals. Whether that’s left, right, or in the middle isn’t important, but there tend to be student organizations on campuses that can give students a place to explore their political beliefs and become more educated on how they view the world. College also introduces students to many different viewpoints and backgrounds, which might open their eyes to different perspectives and make politics more of an emphasis as well. Also, college usually encourages critical thinking which is an important skill when considering politics and political culture, because it forces individuals to form opinions and understand why they have those opinions which is crucial for people to develop more of a political awareness.
ReplyDeleteHi Hazel, I also would agree that in a way, those that do not go to college simply will not understand politics as much, therefore, they will not care to be involved in things such as voting. If you do not understand something then why put yourself in that situation, and I think it only makes sense that to be involved with politics and have knowledge, is to be educated on that. College does a good job at bringing political awareness.
DeleteBeing in college has affected my views on American politics drastically. After taking my first political science course: The American Political System, I learned so much more about the elections and the different political parties that I never knew of. After reading some books for the class, The Polarized Public, most stuck out to me. I learned that America is extremely polarized and that as the years go by, the left and the right are only growing farther apart from the center of the spectrum. I personally feel that without being a political science major, I would not have a deeper understanding about American politics. Therefore, I feel that college has affected my views positively, and educated me on topics that are important to know about, especially if you want to apply what you learn to your own views. I have made decisions based on the knowledge I gained as a political science student. I do not think colleges are too politically correct, I think they simply are here to inform you on what you need to know and you have the choice of what you want to do with that information.
ReplyDeleteThe most important challenge pertaining to higher education in America today is the cost. The cost of getting a degree is killing the concept of meritocracy that this country should strive for. Someone shouldn’t be forced to join the military, be a star athlete, or go into years of crippling debt simply because they don’t come from a family that has the means to fund their education to the level they wish. I think college affects perceptions of politics and political culture greatly not just through fundamental teachings of civics and political knowledge but through the refining of one’s critical thinking skills. Somebody is much less likely to blindly believe if they are able to effectively think about something from a perspective other than their own. Personally, being in college has lessened some of the hardline stances I used to take on things and has made me better able to sympathize with different or opposing views. I don’t know if colleges are too politically correct. I think it’s up to the institution to establish clear protocol on what they allow on their campuses. On a more societal level, looking outside of colleges I do think many people are attempting to tie victimhood into some form of personal identity, and through this identity suppress or attack opposing viewpoints.
ReplyDeleteThe most important challenge pertaining to higher education in America today is its cost. College is very expensive and costly than what it needs to be. For that reason alone, most people aren’t able to attain higher education as it becomes a luxury. The government is sending a clear message that its population attaining higher education is amongst its least priorities. Another challenge pertaining to higher education is lack of content particularly to the country’s history. People underestimate the importance of knowing the history of your own country but it opens your eyes to the political status core. It gets easier to hold politicians accountable for their lies and your personal development flourishes. Being in college has improved my view of American society and challenged my perspective on American politics. I agree with Maureen that colleges should embrace all political viewpoints. Knowledge becomes less important if not all of it is embraced.
ReplyDeleteThe greatest challenge pertaining to higher education in America is combatting apathy. The goal of the classroom is simply to get students to care, to become self-aware on their journey to knowledge. Being in college has diminished my faith in our education system and in our country. I don’t see a lot of passion in my peers, passion for topics sometimes, but not a passion for learning. It’s not entirely on students though, college has sucked my passion out of the classroom, it’s painful to go through the motions of learning in fast-forward, when I have 4 classes demanding equal attention but I only have half the time I need to retain and synthesize the information. The quarter system specifically I don’t think offers enough time to critically, authentically engage with knowledge. The effect of fast-track learning is alumni who don’t know how to think critically about anything, who choose prepackaged ideologies to bury themselves in like the Allegory of the Cave. No matter what ideology, I think that is dangerous.
ReplyDeleteNo I don’t think colleges are too politically correct. I think conservatives need to understand equity in a social context and liberals need to understand the value/purpose of conversation/debate. If we can converse, exchange ideas, and recognize the common ground that innately exists among humans— most problems would be solved, or at least we could get to the root of the problems.
Posted for Emerald (on time):
ReplyDeleteI definitely think schools are actually too politically correct. I think there is a fear from all schools to say the right words and in a way, tip toe are certain topics, so as to not offend anyone. Part of getting a higher education is learning and growing up to prepare yourself for the real world. In the last few years, it seems like being politically correct has been on everyone’s top agendas and it is being gone about in a way that is bringing fear out instead of cultural awareness and acceptance of differences. I have definitely been in classes where I can tell my teacher is very uncomfortable with a topic out of fear of causing a potential scandal. It makes me wonder, since when did it become acceptable to walk on eggshells about truths and realities? in class on Tuesday, we talked about the example of the teacher not educating her students on the realities of slavery- it relates to this same culture of not being told the full truth. It in my opinion, is unfortunately raising a generation of students that end up being very easily triggered by things because they haven't had the proper introduction to something. because, let’s be honest, the real world is rarely politically correct and come sometimes be harsh. I think it is important to respectfully but completely educate students in higher education on all topics.