Thank you so much for this thoughtful video. From the recent conversations I've had with a prof at MSU, it seems doubtful that a liberal education based on great books is achievable, even for "the elite". Over the past few years, he has found that many of the incoming students look upon their education as a commodity, something to be purchased. Furthermore, they feel entitled to receive the grade they desire (i.e. A), rather than the one they deserve because they PAID for it, regardless of their attendance, discussion in class or completion of assignments. I believe you are a prof (if not, you should be) so it would interest me to hear your views on the younger students coming in to your institution.
Yes, you're right. I'm a professor, and I'll have more to say about this topic soon, I hope! Your MSU prof's experiences largely parallel mine. I have some reasons why I think that's the case. I'm sure this topic will come up in a future video!
Interesting. Having spent my life in education, I don’t agree that products of American high schools are illiterate, though there surely are major problems in the educational system. I’ll share a hopeful experience I had. I always taught all levels of English classes-AP, honors, college prep, and remedial/special ed. I was teaching Hamlet in a remedial/special ed. English 12 class. There were a lot of emotionally disturbed kids in the class-perhaps more emotionally disturbed than actually learning disabled. I had one student who had had a particularly difficult life. But he loved to read in my class. And he read everything I gave him, well ahead of the rest of the class. I will never forget the day he was reading in the back of the room while I was working with another student. Suddenly, he kind of slammed the book closed, and he blurted out, “Wow!” I turned to him and asked him, “what’s going on?” He smiled and said, “I think this is the best book I’ve ever read.” It was one of the highlights of my later career. I know you have a different perspective as a university professor, but I do not think that things are quite as dire as the passages you read would suggest. But maybe I’m a bit of a Pollyanna. Anyway, interesting, thoughtful presentation. Thank you.
Thanks for the comments, Pat! I have no doubt that you are an incredible teacher (what a great story!), and that many teachers out there are doing amazing work with students. My father was a high school Math teacher. It takes a special kind of person to be a success in the field, what with all the challenges. I admit that Hutchins' criticisms make me wince a little. I imagine that quality of education varies widely depending on many factors. I'm thankful to my public school teachers for exposing me to great literature. Books like Jane Eyre, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Waiting for Godot, Wuthering Heights, Crime and Punishment, to name a few. I hope that schools are diversifying the kinds of books that are taught, which is what makes this trend of book banning that you have covered in your videos so concerning. You surely know more about the state of things on that front than I do. Broadly, I agree with Hutchins' critique, though he may be overplaying his hand here. Thank you so much for your perspective on the topic.
Jim, I think there are huge variations in the quality of education in this country. I was fortunate to teach in places with great resources and support. We both know, of course, that there are great inequities in education. I think my back was up when you read “the products of American high schools are illiterate.” Anyway, this is great food for thought.
Although this may not be such an important point I believe that acquiring a liberal education or indeed any decent education ultimately comes down to the the individual and that persons mindset at his or her particular point in life. Speaking from my own experience I had little interest in any intellectual development until my thirties as my youth was spent pursuing a musical journey, Pink Floyd and all that. Surprising to some, Roger Waters, although some may consider him highly controversial, has some very deep insights into human nature and society and may have had as much influence on his generation as the Great Books themselves. The same could be said for Bob Dylan. Artists and poets are often at the forefront of advancing deeper insights and are in step with the mood of their time. In the present state of society and perhaps for all time up until now a liberal education has only been possible for the few and I think it is idealistic to expect this to change any time soon, although I wish it were so. Apologies for this lengthy comment. I suppose that in our advancing years we have a lot to get of our chest.
Thanks for the comments. It makes a lot of sense to me that you didn't get serious about intellectual development until your thirties. There's a time and place for everything. I think I appreciate great books much more now that I'm older. I'm also a fan of Pink Floyd and Dylan btw.
@@greatbooksbigideas It seems to me that the older I become and the more knowledge I acquire the more I realize that it takes a great deal of learning to recognize one's own ignorance and it is a headlong rush to try and rectify this before time runs out. One lifetime simply is not enough but it has been a great deal of fun in the attempt. Thanks for your perspectives on the Great Conversation chapters and please keep the channel going. I am sure that in time more interest will be forth coming and your YT project will reach more people.
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Society should promote lifelong access to liberal education to capture students' intellect at all their stages of maturity.
Agreed!
Thank you so much for this thoughtful video. From the recent conversations I've had with a prof at MSU, it seems doubtful that a liberal education based on great books is achievable, even for "the elite". Over the past few years, he has found that many of the incoming students look upon their education as a commodity, something to be purchased. Furthermore, they feel entitled to receive the grade they desire (i.e. A), rather than the one they deserve because they PAID for it, regardless of their attendance, discussion in class or completion of assignments. I believe you are a prof (if not, you should be) so it would interest me to hear your views on the younger students coming in to your institution.
Yes, you're right. I'm a professor, and I'll have more to say about this topic soon, I hope! Your MSU prof's experiences largely parallel mine. I have some reasons why I think that's the case. I'm sure this topic will come up in a future video!
Interesting. Having spent my life in education, I don’t agree that products of American high schools are illiterate, though there surely are major problems in the educational system. I’ll share a hopeful experience I had. I always taught all levels of English classes-AP, honors, college prep, and remedial/special ed. I was teaching Hamlet in a remedial/special ed. English 12 class. There were a lot of emotionally disturbed kids in the class-perhaps more emotionally disturbed than actually learning disabled. I had one student who had had a particularly difficult life. But he loved to read in my class. And he read everything I gave him, well ahead of the rest of the class. I will never forget the day he was reading in the back of the room while I was working with another student. Suddenly, he kind of slammed the book closed, and he blurted out, “Wow!” I turned to him and asked him, “what’s going on?” He smiled and said, “I think this is the best book I’ve ever read.” It was one of the highlights of my later career. I know you have a different perspective as a university professor, but I do not think that things are quite as dire as the passages you read would suggest. But maybe I’m a bit of a Pollyanna. Anyway, interesting, thoughtful presentation. Thank you.
Thanks for the comments, Pat! I have no doubt that you are an incredible teacher (what a great story!), and that many teachers out there are doing amazing work with students. My father was a high school Math teacher. It takes a special kind of person to be a success in the field, what with all the challenges. I admit that Hutchins' criticisms make me wince a little. I imagine that quality of education varies widely depending on many factors. I'm thankful to my public school teachers for exposing me to great literature. Books like Jane Eyre, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Waiting for Godot, Wuthering Heights, Crime and Punishment, to name a few. I hope that schools are diversifying the kinds of books that are taught, which is what makes this trend of book banning that you have covered in your videos so concerning. You surely know more about the state of things on that front than I do. Broadly, I agree with Hutchins' critique, though he may be overplaying his hand here. Thank you so much for your perspective on the topic.
Jim, I think there are huge variations in the quality of education in this country. I was fortunate to teach in places with great resources and support. We both know, of course, that there are great inequities in education. I think my back was up when you read “the products of American high schools are illiterate.” Anyway, this is great food for thought.
this is wonderful
Although this may not be such an important point I believe that acquiring a liberal education or indeed any decent education ultimately comes down to the the individual and that persons mindset at his or her particular point in life. Speaking from my own experience I had little interest in any intellectual development until my thirties as my youth was spent pursuing a musical journey, Pink Floyd and all that. Surprising to some, Roger Waters, although some may consider him highly controversial, has some very deep insights into human nature and society and may have had as much influence on his generation as the Great Books themselves. The same could be said for Bob Dylan. Artists and poets are often at the forefront of advancing deeper insights and are in step with the mood of their time. In the present state of society and perhaps for all time up until now a liberal education has only been possible for the few and I think it is idealistic to expect this to change any time soon, although I wish it were so. Apologies for this lengthy comment. I suppose that in our advancing years we have a lot to get of our chest.
Thanks for the comments. It makes a lot of sense to me that you didn't get serious about intellectual development until your thirties. There's a time and place for everything. I think I appreciate great books much more now that I'm older. I'm also a fan of Pink Floyd and Dylan btw.
@@greatbooksbigideas It seems to me that the older I become and the more knowledge I acquire the more I realize that it takes a great deal of learning to recognize one's own ignorance and it is a headlong rush to try and rectify this before time runs out. One lifetime simply is not enough but it has been a great deal of fun in the attempt. Thanks for your perspectives on the Great Conversation chapters and please keep the channel going. I am sure that in time more interest will be forth coming and your YT project will reach more people.
That pretty much sums up my feelings about it! Thanks for the support.