Essay on In Defense of Elitism - 1068 Words

â€Å"In Defense of Elitism† Summary nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The dominant theme in this essay appears to be this: post war social changes such as offering increased university admission promote the view of egalitarianism in education. The author’s main issue with â€Å"secondary† education is the sheer numbers of our population that the United States as a whole educates. According to Mr. Henry, the United States educates nearly thirty percent of high school graduates who go on to a four year bachelor’s degree. He believes that the increased number of graduates has led to a workforce of mediocrity. In the author’s comparison to other leading countries, the United States has academic standards and achievement requirements which do not†¦show more content†¦He believed that there should be less people leading and more following; more money for the rich and less money for the poor. The regular belief among youth of the author’s generation is stated in the following quote from Mr. Henry. â€Å"In the unexamined American Dream rhetoric promoting mass higher education in the nation of my youth, the implicit vision was that one day everyone, or at least practically everyone, would be a manager or a professional.† (Henry 172) The author believed that this reality was the building block of a wall of lies concerning secondary education. These lies have led to more institutions being opened in order to accommodate the increase in degree seeking students, as well as the steady flow of money coming in. These same lies have also led to a large number of graduates not having the aptitude or ability to maintain a career in a degree required field. Soapbox It is my opinion that the author listed several good arguments to support his theory. For instance, the high number of degree recipients working in a non-degree related field supports his ideas. A major point of interest for me in this essay was the fact that the issue of civil, natural rights does not seem to warrant a discussion at any point. Were these thoughts the author simply did not have or were they left out intentionally in an effort to further his point? The Author seemed much more concerned aboutShow MoreRelatedIn Defense of Liberty and Education for All1626 Words   |  7 PagesIn Defense of Liberty and Education for All How does a society become socially free and have equal opportunity for all its citizens? According to the conventional democratic American belief, all people should be granted the same educational opportunities so that everyone has the fair chance to succeed in society. However, in William A. 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It is purely a reason behind the isolated feeling America gives off, which can lead to ones of misunderstood superiority to others. We are well aware of our impression on others. William Henry III, author of In Defense of Elitism, â€Å"found evidence everywhere - from tabloid newspapers to scholarly journals†¦ above all in the public image† (Henry). It is our deeply rooted beliefs lead to this perceived reception of American culture and beliefs. Other countries try theirRead MoreEssay On American Samurai1528 Words   |  7 Pagesthe enemy, and attitude toward duty changed throughout the war. The United States Marine Corps and the samurai had both created a modern mythology about themselves that emphasized the fact that they were a self-selected warrior caste who epitomized elitism, readiness, and bravery. No one was better than a United States Marine. This attitude was illustrated and exemplified by posters featuring World War I veterans who belonged to the Corps. 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