We’ll use Perusall to annotate and read together.
A Cultured Grace…Or A Waste of Time?
After my group’s discussion on literacy as a state of grace last Friday, I immediately thought of a scene from Pride and Prejudice. Sighh, yes, sometimes I’m a romantic girly girl; however, I think this scene holds true to an idea discussed in Scribner’s article.
Scribner states: “In the perspective of Western humanism, literateness has come to be considered synonymous with being ‘cultured,’ using the term in the old-fashioned sense to refer to a person who is knowledgeable about the content and techniques of the sciences, arts, and humanities as they have evolved historically. The term sounds elitist and archaic, but the notion that participation in a literate – that is, bookish – tradition enlarges and develops a person’s essential self is pervasive and still undergirds the concept of a liberal education (Steiner).”
And here’s the clip from Pride and Prejudice: An Accomplished Woman
Scribner claims that literateness has become synonymous with being “cultured.” A “cultured” person is one who is “knowledgeable about the content and techniques of the sciences, arts, and humanities.” In Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Darcy claims much the same thing. An “accomplished” woman must have a “thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages…and improve her mind by extensive reading.” Interestingly, they are much the same description. The idea of being literate, cultured, or accomplished is no modern idea. It is indeed “archaic” as Scribner put.
One of our classmates, Haley, called to attention that our modern day G.E. class are sort of an homage to this idea. It starts in kindergarten and leads all the way to college. Seven standard subjects are taught from the day we can read until we complete our infamously irritating college G.E. classes. Only after fifteen years of general subject learning can one finally begin to engage in specified major related classes. It’s a point of much disgust for me personally. I hate our mandatory seven subject learning system. I hate our education system. But it has been built this way from centuries past, and we continue to engage in it today. America, it seems, must create well-rounded students of broader knowledge for them to be truly college-literate. Scribner agrees when she says that this system is “pervasive and still undergirds the concept of a liberal education.”
And in theory it sounds like a great idea. Why not produce students, or college graduates rather, who are knowledgeable not just in their major area of study, but in all subjects? Would that not create a better society? I, however, cannot use strong enough terms to describe how much contempt and hate I have for this system of schooling. Instead of mass-producing students as if they come from a factory, why not utilize the individual’s talent more aggressively. Why demand two more years of college G.E. when one has just come from completing four years of basically the same thing in high school? Build trade schools to develop someone’s individual talent and interest rather than require two more years of redundant information.
I don’t mean to say that general education is a waste of time. On the contrary, I think the idea is founded in strong concepts. There is nothing wrong or bad with being “cultured,” “accomplished,” or knowledgeable. After all, “knowledge is power,” is it not? I would deign to say that the problem starts in high school. High school graduates are often condemned as not being prepared for college classes. Can we blame them with such sub-standard requirements held for high school? Make high school more effective. Make it harder. Make it on par with the standards held for the first two years of college and eliminate college G.E. There. I’ve just given you two more years of your life.
Unfortunately, by the time I was deemed ready to start my college higher education in my major studies, I was so sick of all the “learning” that was mandated beforehand, that I was no longer eager to start on my own individual path of desired learning. I had “learned” so much already that was tedious and boring to me, that I no longer really wanted to learn. School had killed my passion to learn. And I think that is a tragic side-effect of our literate culture. Thankfully, I’ve gained a lot of that passion back as I submerge myself in a subject that interests me. How ironic that it turned out to be teaching.
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3 Replies to “A Cultured Grace…Or A Waste of Time?”
This entire post is simply amazing. I can not even go into details because I am in awe. Well written and perfectly stated. This should be an opinion piece in the New York Times or Washington post or something.
I completely agree with your position. I’ve seen that movie so many times and anyone who watches would be quick to roll their eyes at the definition of an accomplished woman as Mr. Darcy has elaborated. Unfortunately we can look at this period piece and disagree with the statements though as a society we still accept it’s underlying values to this day. It is the standard of literacy that we uphold even though it is antiquated and eye-roll inducing. Unfortunately the idea of literacy does not take into account each student’s particular style of learning or their particular intelligences. If this were accessed and utilized instead of a group of kids reluctant to learn we would have engaged students ready to challenge themselves in something they have interest in and are willing to work for.
While I do agree that the GE system is skewed, as a freshman in college I found being submerged into survey classes that covered a much broader range of subjects than were offered at my high school I was able to come to a better understanding of what I truly wanted to focus on. While being forced to take classes that seem pointless can be frustrating and sometimes even infuriating, these classes expose student to subjects that they might not even know they are interested in. I change my major twice before I was able to definitively pick one that I knew was my passion. I understand that college is supposed to challenge the students but it is also a place for growth and self-discovery. One of the best methods for this is exposing oneself to as many things as possible. Most people at our age have a limited understanding of the fundamentals that were taught in high school as most students there do not have the motivation that college students possess, and the GE requirements swerve to reinforce those topics that may have been ignored in the past. Over all I think it is what the individual makes of the experience that is most important, plus because the student has the freedom to choose their classes they can customize their schedules to fit their interests.