First published 1981
Jacques Barzun draws from his decades in American classrooms to diagnose what ails education. He examines how schools have abandoned rigorous thinking for social engineering. Students arrive unprepared for intellectual work. Teachers face impossible demands from administrators who prize statistics over learning. Barzun argues that progressive education theories have weakened academic standards. He shows how colleges admit students who cannot read critically or write clearly. The author traces these problems to a culture that distrusts expertise and genuine achievement. Barzun offers practical reforms rooted in respect for knowledge and clear thinking. His book reveals how America can restore education to its proper purpose.
Genres: american, education, non-fiction, academic
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: social-commentary
Period: 20th-Century
502 pages · Hardcover · Liberty Fund