Education Is the Most Important Function of Local Governments - Essay Example

?Swanson Core 102 Take-home Examination 2 WORKSHEET for ESSAY Step One: Fill in these boxes My Chosen Quotation: Today, education is perhaps the mostimportant function of state and local governments. Compulsory school attendance laws and the great expenditures for education both demonstrate our recognition of the importance of education to our democratic society. It is required in the performance of our most basic public responsibilities, even service in the armed forces. It is the very foundation of good citizenship. Today it is a principal instrument in awakening the child to cultural values, in preparing him for later professional training, and in helping him to adjust normally to his environment. In these days, it is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if he is denied the opportunity of an education. Such an opportunity, where the state has undertaken to provide it, is a right which must be made available to all on equal terms. We come then to the question presented: Does segregation of children in public schools solely on the basis of race, even though the physical facilities and other "tangible" factors may be equal, deprive the children of the minority group of equal educational opportunities? We believe that it does. Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children. The impact is greater when it has the sanction of the law, for the policy of separating the races is usually interpreted as denoting the inferiority of the negro group. A sense of inferiority affects the motivation of a child to learn. Segregation with the sanction of law, therefore, has a tendency to [retard] the educational and mental development of negro children and to deprive them of some of the benefits they would receive in a racial[ly] integrated school system. Author and Title: Assertions and Meaning of This Quotation: This is a persuasive argument attempting to illustrate that education is critical to youth achievement, social responsibility development, and general good citizenship. The author of the quotation tries to convince the reader that education is vital for the broader social good, a system that provides youths with far more than knowledge, but essentially serves as the foundation for the establishment of cultural and social awareness. The author then moves into the argument about segregation of students based on racial characteristics, to justify why this action leads to detrimental outcomes for youths. The author links segregation to missed educational opportunities and how this practice reiterates inferiority for colored people. The main assertion is that the process of racial segregation should be abolished as it has long-standing cultural and social consequences when educational opportunities are missed through racial isolation. Value & Importance of these Ideas: Throughout history, the debate about racial segregation has been a contentious one. Many people who attempt to remove the barriers that have been erected that prevent equality find it difficult to gain commitment to equality initiatives and diversity, therefore this particular author tries to link educational importance to segregation to gain support for this concept. Because there are broader needs in society that cannot be fulfilled without education, such as cultural awareness and social citizenship, segregation does not provide students with the foundation of critical knowledge needed to benefit society as adult figures. By promoting equality and integrating students of different races, it provides valuable knowledge about peer lifestyles, attitudes and needs that are necessary to be a well-rounded contributor to society later in life. Agree/Disagree? Why?: Though I hold no prejudices or stereotypes in this argument, I do not generally agree with this contention. Lifestyle and the social environment outside of the classroom provide ample opportunities for social and cultural awareness. The diversity of the United States has many rural and urban areas maintaining multiple racial demographics in the population. There are other avenues to explore to gain cultural knowledge and lessons on citizenship that cannot be found in a traditional classroom. Community recreational centers, business leaders, and other community resources can provide advanced knowledge on culture and social responsibility. Even though segregation is not an appropriate practice, the fundamental argument for justifying its removal in this quotation simply is not strong enough. Swanson Core 102 Take-home Examination 2 WORKSHEET for ESSAY Step Two: Use this outline to draft your essay Introduction (Include identification of quotation, author, title and circumstances of text. End with thesis statement): Racial segregation: There are some in society who believe it should be abolished so as to produce better negro citizens who maintain diverse cultural awareness. Education, according to proponents of racial integration, gives fundamental lessons that are critical for improving society that are not necessarily related to mathematics or traditional reading and writing curriculum. However, there is simply not enough evidence that segregation impedes social and cultural development, rendering this quotation without merit in explaining either white supremacy or negro inferiority. One or more paragraphs in which you explain the assertions and meaning of this quotation: The author makes many assumptions that educators in the school environment are equipped with the knowledge and experience that will give integrated students valuable lessons on social citizenship and cultural awareness. By removing barriers of inequality and providing negro students with the same lessons of white students, it will provide society with individuals ready to handle business or a position of social/governmental leadership and therefore benefit a democratic society. One or more paragraphs in which you discuss the value & importance of these ideas and explain why you agree or disagree with them: Not all educators have these credentials regarding social learning and citizenship, thus some lessons in this domain of knowledge will not be found in a standard classroom curriculum. The author is running under the assumption that educators are the most fundamental resource for providing advanced societal learning as a means of persuading the reader to adopt this philosophy of integration. It is irresponsible and somewhat narrow-minded to assume that educators are equipped to supply students with lessons that sometimes stem from parental figures, community leaders or through engagement with media sources. It is simply not a strong enough argument to end segregation, even though this practice might conflict with relative beliefs on ethics and morality. The facts associated with this argument are simply not coercive enough and are largely founded simply on opinion which does not hold proverbial water for justifying an end to this practice. Conclusion: If the quotation’s author had provided more evidence about the importance of social learning and citizenship and how this translates into better societal gains, it would have provided a more powerful argument. There are simply too many assumptions made in this argument about the viability of education to create community-minded, culturally-focused future leadership to apply it to either white students or negro students effectively and appropriately. Without more proof of how social and citizenship learning can be applied effectively in the classroom environment, the argument is unwarranted and provides no legitimate value in promoting integration. Read More