The Liberal Studies in American Educational System Essay Example

struck by encouraging students to make voluntary selection subjects. By so doing students can emerge from education system with a balance of both specialization and personality that is not only relevant to the fields they will be working in, but also enhances all rounded character.

Newman believed education should not just be a means to career success but should be sought for the sake of being knowledgeable and to foster inquisitiveness. Both general studies and career-oriented classes are important. The general studies make one an all rounded person who fits in the social fabric and in a dignified way. Career focused studies boost ones productivity. Excelling in both spheres entails success in life.

In a bid to boost rates of student success and course completion rates, Armenta contends that use of data to identify trends that are leading to better completion rates is a great idea. However, just as Newman observes, Armenta believes use of data and provision of good learning environment as postulated by Earnest Boyer (the subject of Armenta’s article) should be supplemented by providing motivation to the individual students. Armenta view’s that a community that has confidence in the students is a source of motivation by the learners to even outperform expectations. In essence the intangible confidence (Armenta’s article) and the beauty in Newman’s scenario represent great parallel of non-material rewards being a motivation for seeking knowledge.

Newman believes knowledge should not be sort only in pursuit of a certain tangible rewards. He gives a vivid analogy of effort made in beautifying a park or garden without expecting corn or fruits but instead deriving satisfaction from the beauty, so should be knowledge. Indeed, when enjoyment

is derived from pursuit of knowledge, it (enjoyment) acts as a source of motivation to keep seeking knowledge even when anticipating no material rewards.