Description
Book SynopsisIt is the purpose of this book to examine the ever-changing meaning of the term liberal arts and to trace its development from antiquity to the present. In doing so, the text will compare and contrast the values of such an education with the other important objective of schools and colleges, which is to prepare students with appropriate occupational training. The book will highlight the arguments of both points of view. In doing so, attention will be paid to the contributions to society of those who have been exposed to a variety of educational curricula. As part of the study, the impact of the community college will be considered, along with the impact of recent initiatives such as the Nation at Risk Report, No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top, and the Common Core. Finally, the text will conclude with an attempt to suggest the direction that will determine the fate of liberal arts in schools and colleges.
Trade ReviewThe current climate of political influence on education has had a devastating impact on teaching the whole child. With increased focus and accountability on utilizing student assessment results in teacher evaluation, we have created a hostile environment were only the tested contents receive attention and others are set aside. Ironically, a movement that was meant to improve the education of our young people will have a devastating and lasting impact on the future of our country. Mr. Hayes is eloquent in the manner that he presents a framework to challenge our thinking on what is truly right for our students. This book stimulates reflection and real soul searching for today’s educator. -- Casey Kosiorek, Superintendent of School , Byron-Bergen, New York
Every society needs scientists, mathematicians, nurses, and trained, skilled technicians. Yet, as Prof. Hayes reminds us in this critical analysis of liberal arts education in our schools and colleges, there is an equal need for writers, philosophers, artists, musicians. and future leaders. Hayes articulately explains the historical roots and long term implications of the increasing devaluation of a broad-based liberal arts education in our educational institutions. Policy makers, educational leaders, teachers, and truly anyone concerned about the future of liberal arts as an essential cornerstone of our democratic society would benefit greatly from Prof. Hayes' insights and admonitions. -- John J. O'Kane, Retired Pupil Personnel Services Director, Batavia City Schools
In his new book on the liberal arts, William Hayes considers the most fundamental question: What is the purpose of an education? Consensus has collapsed in recent decades as occupational training and increased specialization have gained advocates. Hayes traces the origins of the liberal arts and considers the place of arts and humanities disciplines in the modern curriculum, but this is not primarily a defense of specific disciplines. Rather Hayes explains how the current testing and assessment regimes, their impact on academic schedules, and post-recession finances have created the context in which once-indispensable subjects intended to provide students with enrichment and aesthetic and ethical understanding, as well as to prod students toward self-examination, are being squeezed out of our schools. For those concerned with the state of arts and humanities education and who continue to value the more holistic education toward which the liberal arts aspire, here is a valuable resource for use in discussions with administrators, parents, and other stakeholders. -- Stanley C. Pelkey II, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Engagement and Entrepreneurship, College of Music, Florida State University; coeditor: Music and History: Bridging the Disciplines
Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION 1.Origins of the Idea 2.Liberal Arts in the Schools and Colleges in Early America 3.The First Public Schools in America 4.The Establishment of Vocational Schools 5.The Community College 6.The Progressive Education Movement 7.History Becomes the Social Studies 8.Philosophy as a Component of a Liberal Arts Education 9.Latin and Other Foreign Languages in the Liberal Arts Tradition 10.The Future of the Arts in Our Schools and Colleges 11.The Impact of Technology on the Liberal Arts 12.C.P. Snow and the “Two Cultures Debate” 13.School Choice and the Liberal Arts 14.The Growing Impact of the Federal Government 15.The Common Core Curriculum 16.Poverty and the Availability of an Equal Educational Opportunity 17.A Liberal Arts Education for Special Education and Gifted and Talented Students 18.The Impact of Other Programs 19.The Liberal Arts in Our Colleges 20.The Future of the Liberal Arts
