College Writing

outline for the article by Karl Zinsmeister The 60`s Rules in Public Schools

I . CURRENT SITUATION IN AMERICAN EDUCATION

II . ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT SITUATION

The Influence of the 60s Mentality

Trivialization of the Curriculum

The Doubtful `Alternative ‘ Approaches to Teaching

The `Fun ‘ factor in Education

Effects of the Over-Emphasis on Multiculturalism

III . CONCLUSIVE CALL FOR THE RETURN TO THE IDEOLOGY OF

EXCELLENCE

outline for the article by David Berliner Educational Reform in an Era of

Disinformation

I . THE PROBLEM – EXCESSIVE BLAME IS PUT ON THE [banner_entry_middle]

AMERICAN

EDUCATION SYSTEM

II . DISPROOF OF POPULAR ACCUSATIONS OF AMERICAN

EDUCATION SYSTEM

Is Today`s Youth as Smart as it Used to Be

Do American Schools and Students Really Succeed in Their Tasks

What Is the Role of Money and Expenditures in American Education

Are American Schools Meeting the Contemporary Demands

Is American Education Weak in the International Context

III . THE REASONS AND DANGERS BEHIND WIDESPREAD MYTHS OF THE

FAILURE OF THE AMERICAN EDUCATION

David Berliner and Karl Zinsmeister both investigate problems of contemporary American education , which today are clearly in the list of the most hotly debatable matters . The comparison of views of Berliner and Zinsmeister can easily suggest why this is so as both scholars support almost completely opposing views . Zinsmeister argues for what most of us have heard all too often – namely that modern approaches to education in America are quite doubtful in their efficiency , and that during recent decades the quality of education had largely degraded due to the adoption of some alternative educational methodologies which are not actually built on the latest ‘ in educational thinking , but rather on something a full generation older (Zinsmeister 1997 ,

.62 In his turn , Berliner argues that American education is adequate in most aspects , and that it properly suits the specific demands of the American society . Besides , Berliner claims that proposed educational reforms could be harmful as long as one of the driving forces behind them may be the elite that wants education to be regarded as a privilege rather than a right of every American (Berliner 1993 . In this dubious situation , it should be noted that both scholars have it right in many respects . For example , Zinsmeister is quite correct in his criticism as he draws our attention to the fact that education probably too often assumes playful forms that may sometimes demotivate students . Still , I believe that in to make wide-ranging claims one has to adopt a systemic approach akin to that chosen by Berliner , who convincingly supports his allegations with statistics , and thus demonstrates the importance of balanced comparisons that account for peculiarities of the various approaches to education . Finally , I personally think that education is not only about acquisition of some practical skills and grades , but rather about learning to adapt to ever changing environment we are living in . Therefore , I tend to believe in the optimistic view of Berliner that Americans can decide what they look for in education instead of a somewhat narrow position of… [banner_entry_footer]