Claudia Francis
Professor Margaret Fletcher
English Composition II-Section 91
31 March 2014
Tilting at the Windmills of the Higher Education System In the article “Education, Democracy and the Life Worth Living,” Mark Kingswell argues that the modern perception and application of higher education has become too commonly linked with the concept of work and money versus creating well-rounded critical thinkers that have a world of diverse knowledge at their fingertips. Kingswell supports his claim with historical context regarding the basis of education, job growth trends, philosophical viewpoints and personal opinion. The author points out the perceived shortcomings of the standard, current overall view of the education system in order to advocate for a return to a broader educational basis focused not on careers, but rather personal betterment. The intended audience for this piece are those who support Mr. Kingswell’s position philosophically and those who may be on the fence regarding the worthwhile nature of today’s higher education system. While I agree that higher education should be accessible for all and create minds that can think creatively and problem solve, I disagree with the overall assertion that colleges and universities in their current form are dangerous or damaging to the economy. This is not to say that everyone needs to run to college for a career and ignore the fine arts, philosophies and studies of the mind, but that education has a place next to more practical skills. I know plenty of people who have gone to prestigious schools like the University of Chicago to study art. Now, they are working behind a cash register at Target, thousands of dollars in debt and wishing they had also coupled their studies into something that would pay the bills. Mr. Kingswell’s view is a very philosophically based view coming from one of the rare