deterioration of the school system
...entioned a situation in which he lectured to a student body about the dangers of this system. The magnitude of the issues was shown when a student asked, “You’re telling us not to just get in a race for the traditional rewards, but what else is out there?” This student is fascinated by the competition for wealth and luxury that he is unaware to anything else in life. This is an example of a hollow soul, someone who may never lack money but will always lack heart. This problem is accredited to pressure from parents and teachers, social forces, and simply the existence of grades. In order to produce well rounded youths who are intelligent as well as independent the perspectives of society as well as parents and teachers must change. Kohn blames the expectation of the grading system but without it there would be no method of evaluation. He proposes that school should be a place of self-enlightenment, without the confinement of curriculums and rankings. In such a proposal, Kohn completely ignored the greatest force standing between society and the utopia of wisdom and knowledge, human nature. Humans are greedy and competitive by nature, so it is impossible to start such a system. In order for schools to become the beginning of a life long journey of learning, the materialism that is fed to the next generation must end. Much like Kohn, Friedman also discussed the problems surrounding the productivity-oriented nature of the school system. Friedman however did not explore as deeply into the issues. She observed the symptoms of corruption, especially the deterioration of morals and ethics. As a student, Friedman observed the back stabbing and deceit implode by her fellow senior to be accepted by top universities. Students equate success with admission, in some circumstances even life with an acceptance letter. A student was quoted saying “If I don’t get into Brown I’ll die.” With such extreme thoughts many life long buddies became bitter enemies. Two girls who were friends from infancy refused to speak with one another because they both applied to Yale and probably found it very irritating that the other would not give up their future for the sake of the friendship. It is unthinkable that the application to a university can alter relationships and break long established bonds. The cause of the wrong behavior in students is the quest for measurable rewards, no the intangible joy of learning. Throughout their entire lives the students are told to achieve a certain mark in a subject, not a thorough understanding. Therefore, it is inevitable that fat envelopes become the coveted prizes for it leads to other materialistic rewards. In “Examiner” Scott shows the limited world that students are exposed to the textbook schools. He compares two methods of learning, the present form and one that is open and free. Nature is shown as the enlightening method of teaching as nature nurtures its plants with sunshine and r...