官方范文精析系列之八-Higher Education

AdelineShenUID: 2630498

Issue test 8: Higher Education
“It is important for higher education to challenge established traditions and values.”

SAMPLE-6 (SCORE 6)

I feel it is impossible to not recognize the validity of this argument. It is important for higher education to challenge established traditions and values! Certainly in our society there are many traditions and values worth adhering to; however, if we refuse to challenge them, them we are accepting the status quo without realizing the full potential of other opportunities. Higher education and all other levels of education should challenge their students to think not only about English, history, or math, but about the inherent values and traditions implied in those areas as well, because the questioning of these things requires thoughtful consideration and conviction, times and societal influences change, and worthwhile traditions and values will stand the test of time.

Teachers are well aware that valuable teaching requires much more of an individual than solely the knowledge of subject matter, and at all levels of education are required to challenge their students to think. Research has proven that decision-making skills and higher order analytical thought processes are much more critical to student success than actual subject matter. Teaching about traditions and values are part of this process. Most students learn traditions and values from their families; unfortunately, lots of students in our society don't have families with traditions or values (taught or implied) and we are therefore required to teach them to a certain degree. As a result, those students who do acquire values at home can begin to determine whether or not they agree with those philosophies, and those students who do acquire values at home can begin to determine whether or not they agree with those philosophies, and those who haven't can learn about all types of traditions and values and determine which of those they would like to adopt. It is all about challenging people to think; therefore allowing them to mature and become more responsible members of society.

Also we must recognize that society changes (progressing or regressing) over time. We cannot allow all traditions and values to remain the same because they are no longer appropriate. For example, there was once a court edict in the early 1900's that no more than 3 women should reside in the same house together. Of course this was needed both because of brothels and the "fragile" needs of women to have male protection; however, times have now changed. We have sorties and those women wish to reside together! Simalarly, two hundred years ago we did not teach sex education in schools, yet today it is almost a dire necessity to defer the ever increasing rate of teenage pregnancy, sexual transmitted diseases, and AIDS, The tradition to keep such matters 'private, or in the home' is no longer acceptable considering the needs of society to deal with these problems.

Lastly, those traditions and values that are worthwhile and necessary to our exstence will stand the test of time and remain essential ingredients to our lifestyles. We will always have religion is many forms and debates about national holidays, but the consistency is in the fact that we have them. Hopefully, four thins about life will always be essential: the need to respect one another, formulate intelligent responses, think before we speak, and have manners. Those manners might change, as have some with women's lib (i.e. the opening of doors, purchasing of meals based on fender, etc.), but manners of some type will always be necessary.

In conclusion, it is important maintain worthwhile tradition and values as they stand the test of time, so long as we think about them and challenge ourselves, As a result, all members of sociey will be stronger in their convictions.

AdelineShenUID: 2630498

SAMPLE-5 (SCORE 5)

If the purpose of education is to pass down traditions and values to future generations exactly as they exist in the present, then educational institutions will resemble craft guilds. If the goal is to reach for higher truths and delve deep to perfect the current level of human understanding, then the crafters of higher education are obliged to challenge established traditions and values. Do not misunderstand - I am not a proponent of radical moves to throw out the baby with the bathwater, but I believe that there is need in our society for both types of schools: those which teach currently accepted norms, and those which are probing and challenging those norms.

Even within schools at a more basic level, students should be discouraged from accepting all they learn at face value, and to question and challenge. These students however, need to be provided with tools and rules by which to challenge, such as those taught in geometry relating to hypotheses and theorems. Students at the post elementary level are naturally challenging and questioning the voices of authority who are engaged in educating their young minds. Such reactions are developmentally apporopriate, but in too many cases are simply quashed by teachers, rather than nurtured and refined. Many opportunities are missed by teachers who fail to teach the rules and tools for challenging traditions and values, which may lead to radical and groundless rejection on the part of the young learner. It is best for teachers of the young to adapt and apply the best tools available in institutions of higher education which will help mold youngsters into knowledgeable but creative thinkers.

One example from the theory of education might help clarify my point. Lev Vygotsky, the Russian educator had a theory called 'the zones of proximal development.' An effective teacher will constantly challenge his student to reach one step beyond their current level of understanding. Vygotsky did not believe that it is sufficient to provide knowledge. He and others such as John Dewey believed that the learner must confront and manipulate knowledge, values, and traditions in order to comprehend and internalize the material being learned. Thus the information is never in a constant state, but is being molded by the teacher, by the learner, and by the encounter with the subject matter.

If a shark stands still in the ocean ,it is destined to die, and so it is with traditions and values. If traditions and values are preserved under a glass dome, with no room (or air) for challenge and change, the traditions and values will eventually die. It is the inherent obligation of institutions of higher learning to preserve the right of its students and faculty to challenge traditions and values and to do so using fairne

AdelineShenUID: 2630498

SAMPLE-4 (SCORE 4)

I believe it is important for higher education to challenge established traditions and values. Changes, improvements, and evolution in our communities and society overall begin with the expansion of individual's knowledge, as well as, a development of an understanding of the diverse paradigms from which individuals see themselves and the world of which they are a part. This essay will seek to explain and support this opinion.

Higher education offers students many opportunities to expand their knowledge and perspectives. Students develop critical thinking and organizational skills and learn to communicate their ideas in an effective and meaningful manner. They learn to interact with individuals of diverse backgrounds and can gain a deeper understanding of the cultural differences which play a significant role in the current global world which exists today. They can also learn a great deal about issues: of personal importance to them and about which they are passionate, as well as those concepts and ideas which challenge and stimulate their minds.

In the context of participating in higher education, students are provided with situations and ideas that may challenge the traditions and values that they have learned and relied upon in their lives. Such challenges are important because they encourage students to reevaluate the paradigms and ideologies from which they see themselves and the world. They are then stimulated to develop new ideas and concepts that can be implemented to make improvements to economic, humanist and global issues.

The evolution and improvement of our world must first begin with individuals. Increased knowledge and appreciation for diverse cultural traditions, values and influences provides individuals with the necessary tools to make effective contributions to society. By challenging established traditions and values, higher education plants the seeds of growth and change in the minds of students and in doing so, can help to improve global, national and local economies and societies.

AdelineShenUID: 2630498

SAMPLE-3 (SCORE 3) Through out time higher education establishments have maintained a plethora of traditions and values that have been honored for years. Today there may not even be any understanding of how these traditions took place, however many insist on upholding their validity. Although there are some traditions that will always be maintain in good graces, such as the honor code, there are far more that should be challenged. When many higher education institution came about, they were designed only to educate the male, upper class. Today, to be successful in the professional world, many socioeconomic groups aspire to continue their education past highschool. Do to this change in attendance, there must be change in traditions and values. The first change should start from the very beginning, the admissions policies. Many young adults who come from highly education families rely on their admissions to college solely on legacy. The process of accepting new students based only on who went there before should be completely illiminated. Also within admissions, the board deciding should try to make the student body as diverse as possible. In bringing in a many different cultures to the campus a college has the opportunity to create new traditions and values. These new traditions can be brought to all different aspects of the college, such as student government activities, multi-cultrural events, and even the more formal event like commencement. Overall, many people feel that as the times change so does the traditions for all establishments. With many minds collaborated in a higher education system, it is the perfect environment to challenge all that is brought to the table, simply because we can.

AdelineShenUID: 2630498

SAMPLE-2 (SCORE 2)

Many believe that education is vocational in nature. Numbers should be learned to balance a check book. Reading should be taught to find a job. These skills are neccesary but education should not stop there. Descartes' famous 'I think, therefore I am,' is evidence to the fact that life is a learning process. Those who seek higher education choose to better themselves beyond checkbooks and jobs. They choose to educate the greatest gift of all, the human spirit. It is this gift that must be educated and there is no better way to do this than challenge. Challenging beliefs, traditions, and values to some seems unappropriate or cruel, but in the long run the desired outcome is a more fortified set of beliefs that may be discussed (or argued) at many levels . This challenge to authority is protected in a free society and should be embraced by higher education.

AdelineShenUID: 2630498

SAMPLE-1 (SCORE 1)

Yes, I agree with thw aseveration in general terms becuse some times certain traditions and even values are based in the ignorance and that kind of values, in my opinion should changed. However, there are also important historical traditions that in my opinion should be conserved because they are part of the identity of the nations. The develop of the science ha changed traditions and values throughtout the whole history of the humanity. The example of Galileo in the middle age strugling against the old traditions and believes about the movement of the sun around the earth shown us that certain believes and values are not correct, for that reason I think it is important for higher education to challenge every day the established traditions and values.