Use the first of the prompt 1 - Essay Example

Furthermore, the essay also intends to differentiate why or why not the liberal approach has made a difference in Rodriguez’s attitudes as compared to Delbanco. It was in this context that the thoughts of Rodriguez were emphasizing a much liberal form of education as compared to Delbanco. As Rodriguez (597) quoted – “The boy who first entered a classroom barely able to speak in English, twenty years later concluded his studies in the stately quiet of the reading room in the British Museum”.

While on the other hand, Delbanco states - “The educational imperative is clear: A class should be small enough to permit every student to participate in the give-and-take of discussion under the guidance of an informed, skilled, and engaged teacher”. Again, presenting his views in “Achieving of Desire,” Rodriguez describes few major difficulties faced by students when balancing life in both academic and working class family stages. His critical emphasis was on learning the attitude of stereotypical students, assuming their relation with a particular working class, who are more likely to spend times in books and class notes rather than spending times with family members or friends.

For instance, Rodriguez asserts that a stereotypical student, belonging from a working class family background, often finds a new environment of learning to reward him/her with mental calmness. It is in this context that the findings obtained by Rodriguez rationalize that the school environment as completely different from a working class family. He further asserts that in such a home environment, parents have strong influence on students because of the positive environment, which further increases their chances of academic excellence in their educational career (Rodriguez 597-607).

On the other hand, Delbanco in “College at Risk” provides a distinctive definition of education. Delbanco agrees, “What those statements have in common—and there is truth in both—is an