American Higher Education - Essay Example

? s School American Education: Ivy League V Public Universities Studying and analyzing the American history of education starting from 1960`s to present time, striking trends can be marked within categorizing the era in the context of American education. The first universities founded in America were the private universities conceived by the missionaries who brought the English style of education. There were highly expensive private universities, however, as the trend of education proceeded to the masses, certain laws were passed to impart education to those who can`t afford private education, thus, certain reforms were made not earlier than in the middle of the nineteenth century. However, since the quality of education with the passage of time began to be calculated on the ground of sports indicators of the particular college, the athletic conference resulted in the formation of the Ivy League, which comprised of eight private colleges, i.e., Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University. These lists of colleges are perceived as the most dignified colleges where the highly intellectual elites acquire their degrees; however, grants are also offered to high intellectuals from mediocre backgrounds. In contrast, the Public Universities are state funded universities; each state owns one where students from the middle class background can acquire education. This paper aims at analyzing the trends of education, both private and public, throughout centuries, alongside with analyzing striking differences between the both. The comparison will be made in terms of cost and professional prospects and, lastly, by drawing analogies between education and power as a recent trend. The roots of American education can be traced back to the colonial era where the American model of education was replicated considering the medieval era system being followed in England. 1636 can be regarded as an important year of education as it was in this year that the general court of Massachusetts appointed several funds to establish a college right in Cambridge. This college later turned into the Harvard University where initially the focus was on Bible studies; however, alongside with subjects relevant to philosophy, astronomy, ethics, logic etc., there were subjects similar to those of the colleges in England. Harvard was basically a dignified institution created to teach the ministers, thus, being an elitist college. The colonial era saw the establishment of nine more colleges, out of which eight were affiliated religiously; however, all were private universities targeting selected students from strong backgrounds (Cohen and Kisker 89-90). These colleges include William and Marry School, the Yale University, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, Brown University, Rutgers, Dartmouth, the Cowley and William College, all of which were aimed at intellectual development of the children of the privileged class. Following the war, the trend of college education started becoming popular; more and more schools started coming into existence. 1820`s and 1830`s are considered to be important years in this context as important debates were raised considering the scope and the curricula of education (Denham 45). Subjects like history were being coupled with sciences and a shift away from the medieval model took place at that time. This era also saw an increase in the number of working class owing much to the changing demographics and trends in the United States of America. Thus, the Congress became more sensitive in this context as the need to educate the masses was on the rise. Therefore, after heated debates and efforts, Congress finally passed the Morill Acts of 1862 and later in 1890 (Burtchael 62). This reform constituted a land reform system where the pieces of lands owned by the Federal Governments would be allocated to establish public schools for those students who belonged to the middle class to study. Thus, the period following the reform saw a new shift from the traditional system of college education in a variety of ways. Earlier university education was confined for the upper class as they were the only ones who could afford it. For this reason, the subjects were also focused towards developing critical thinking and polishing the intellectual skills of these students. However, at that time the scope of education was changing, as there was a need to cope up with the needs of the market which was also changing. Thus, bigger focus was placed on sciences-related subject to equip the masses with all kinds of skills. Therefore, degrees were started in subjects other than liberal arts: students could acquire degrees in agriculture, engineering, learning military related education etc. Prior to 1880`s, the only university offering courses other than liberal arts was the Yale University, however, following the decade many other degrees were being offered. Following the Morril Acts, public universities started coming into existence, and the first university that came into existence in the light of this law was the Kansas State Agricultural College which is now the Kansas State University. This reform also marked another trend. Earlier the Universities were following the tradition of college system; however, in this era the shift towards the modern University system was made. East Coast colleges were the first ones to adopt this trend as these colleges eventually started to follow the University Model of education. Also, the undergraduate programs were now being extended to graduate program and even post doctoral degrees were now started being offered in varied subjects like sciences, law, medicine etc. Eventually, the trend was also started being followed by the colleges in Mid-West education as well. Next came the post World War I period, where the G.I. Bill was passed. It was a great step towards the improvement of the quality of education in the U.S. This Bill ensured that the Government of the United States of America would pay for the educational expenses of all the war veterans. Owing much to this reform, college enrollments increased significantly and eventually education started becoming common for the American people. Thus, more and more Americans started being enrolled for diverse programs all over America, campus sizes started increasing and even the scope and size of the professional degree programs were enhanced. Therefore, compared to the college education about 400 years prior to this period when the college education was just confined to the upper class, now a diverse range of people were enrolled for various fields which was yet another trend for the American education system. During the 20th century, the most reliable standard to judge the quality of education in the U.S was to place the college on the sports records of the state. Earlier on, during the seventeenth and the eighteenth century, the professors strictly discouraged any kinds of sports or physical activity of the students (Hoeveler 44). Back then, the only focus was on intellectual development as it was believed that the rough sports were only for the working classes. However, soccer was one game which was played between Harvard, Yale and Princeton Universities as it was believed to be more of a social event where people can meet up and socialize, and the trend still continues. Baseball also became important in the late nineteenth century as different competitions very being held between colleges. Moreover, baseball clubs were also formed later and inter-college sports competitions were being held. It was more of an accomplishment for Harvard College when they first won the championship in 1868 over Yale University, thus the trend of sports was on the rise for all the private schools. The trend of these sports association is significant in this context because Ivy League was a result of the union between the most privileged universities in the U.S. The union came into being after an athletic conference took place was held between eight private institutions of America with a very high repute all over America. These eight institution being the Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University. This term “Ivy League” finally became official in 1954 only after the NCAA division was formed (Hoshchild and Scovronick 112). However, as time passed the term is no more just limited for the use for sports, in fact it has now become a legacy for the American Nation, as the term now implies that the University is a highly dignified institution and is used for the elitist based colleges in the U.S. The Ivy League colleges constitute those colleges which acquire the top 16 positions in the World Rankings for these colleges, out of which Princeton and Harvard are the most dignified ones. Thus, with time the contrasts between public schools and Ivy League kept getting deeper, and in the present time there is an even wider gap where there is a strong bias for those who go to public universities as compared to those who opt for the Ivy Leagues. Apart from the sports performances and the academic results reflecting the University, social elitism is also a standard which separates the two, as most of the students who opt for Ivy Leagues belong to the higher social spectrum in America. Thus, some of the major differences can clearly be identified between the two kinds of universities. Firstly, the Ivy League and the public universities aren`t just two kinds of universities, rather two separate cultures as two different kinds of student`s lot attends these universities. Public universities are mostly attended by those from middle class, while the intellectuals and the social elites rather go to the Ivy Leagues, thus, these two are separate world. Moreover, the quality of education is definitely higher in Ivy Leagues as there is an intense competition in these Universities as the most competent students attend these universities, and the most dignified professors teach here. Moreover, there are also striking differences based on the cost of education in these institutes. While Public Universities are highly funded by the government, the expenses are low; however, the expenses for studying at an Ivy League are strikingly high for an ordinary student to afford. The tuition cost of Ivy Leagues is generally above $50,000 and these prices are ever increasing (Birmingham 61-62). In contrast the public universities cost much lower and are affordable by ordinary students from a middle class background. In addition, another difference lies in the acceptability rate of these schools, i.e. the there is a lot of competition for the admissions in the Ivy Leagues, and only 8-10% students end up getting admitted to these Universities, thus the rejection rate is very high (Bernstein 77). Most of the students are above average, rather exceptions who are highly competent individuals. In contrast depending on the reputation of the state universities, the acceptability rate is quite higher. Only a few of the public universities have a high rejection rate, and even so, the rejection rate isn’t in any way as high as the Ivy Leagues. In this context, there is a high contrast between the professional prospects of the students who have attended Ivy Leagues as compared to those who have attended public universities. Those who graduate from the public schools generally have to struggle hard to reach a high pay scale and a reputable position in the workplace. In contrast, if a candidate with the same credentials applies for the same position who has an Ivy League exposure, it is highly likely that the one with Ivy League degree will be preferred. According to the analysts, the Ivy League graduates are preferred over others, and as soon as they graduate a high pay scale is offered to these people. Surveys indicate that the resume`s with an Ivy League degree definitely stand out amongst all applicants and accordingly, the starting salary packages of these graduates may be as high as $50,000. Thus, the professional prospects of the Ivy League graduates are definitely high, which is the sole reason why the most competent individuals struggle hard to get admitted to the Ivy Leagues. In contrast, the public school graduates earn what they deserve, and only stand out once they are exceptions which constitute only a few individuals out of all the ones graduating each year. One of the main reasons for acquiring the high professional prospects is the socializing prospects which these institutions offer. Since, the lobbies for these graduates is already strong enough, as most of the political leader, economists, wall street CEO`s etc originate from here (Weir 67). Also, people from the most distinguished and the most highly stratified individuals around the state, thus the chances for ending up at a high career pace enhances. Thus, if an insightful view of the contrasts between both the kinds of universities is made, a clear power differential can be traced. Since the Ivy League schools are dominated by the elitists, the high costs and the social culture of the rich, this is also another way for these elitists to maintain their power throughout America. This implies that the Ivy League as an association of the social elitists has become a standard to judge the quality of the graduates coming out of these leagues; this is merely a way to hold their power and make all others realize that the power rests upon the elitists. The strong lobbies make it very difficult for those from the middle class to retain, thus being the motive of the social elitists (Bowen, Chingos and McPherson 32). Though, these institutes offer scholarships to deserving students, however, still the dominating lot is the elitist one, which confirms the power differential created by the elitists. Conclusively, throughout centuries i.e. the seventeenth and the eighteenth centuries the education was only limited to the elitists in America for their intellectual polishing. However, with time after the Morill reforms were passed the trend for public education was created. The sole standard for judging the quality of education soon became the sports, thus sports association were formed. Those associations soon became popular in the most privileged colleges which became the base for the Ivy Leagues conference. In the present times, the term Ivy League isn’t used for the sports associations, rather for the privileged colleges. Thus, striking differences between the public and private universities can be identified, i.e. public universities are funded by the state while Ivy Leagues cost very high which can only be afforded by those with a very high income. Moreover, job prospects for Ivy League graduates are also high as compared to those who had attended the public schools. Thus, Ivy Leagues are merely being used to control power by virtue of being dominant and superior over all other institutions. Therefore, conclusively, Ivy Leagues are definitely superior and preferred by many students all over America, rather all over the world. Works Cited Cohen, Arthur M., and Carrie B. Kisker. The Shaping of American Higher Education: Emergence and Growth of the Contemporary System. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2010. Print. Birmingham, Frederic A. The Ivy League Today. New York: Crowell, 1961. Print. Denham, Thomas J. A Historical Review of Curriculum in American Higher Education: 1636-1900. , 2002. Print. Burtchaell, James T. The Dying of the Light: The Disengagement of Colleges and Universities from Their Christian Churches. Grand Rapids, Mich: W.B. Eerdmans Pub. Co, 1998. Print. Hoeveler, J. D. Creating the American Mind: Intellect and Politics in the Colonial Colleges. Lanham, Md: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2002. Print. Hochschild, Jennifer L, and Nathan B. Scovronick. The American Dream and the Public Schools. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003. Print. Bowen, William G, Matthew M. Chingos, and Michael S. McPherson. Crossing the Finish Line: Completing College at America's Public Universities. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press, 2009. Print. Weir, Robert E. Class in America: An Encyclopedia. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 2007. Print. Bernstein, Mark F. Football: The Ivy League Origins of an American Obsession. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2001. Print. Read More