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Title: The End Of Education : Redefining the Value of School by Neil Postman ISBN: 0-679-75031-2 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 29 October, 1996 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.61 (18 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Of means and ends : Education redefined
Comment: The blurb of the book is interesting enough to make one want to pick it up. And when one does begin the voyage, one realizes immediately that the author isnt talking about the end of education in terms of its being finished, rather he is speaking of the Purpose of education. Once this distinction is made, Postman brilliantly argues about how all of today's educational initiatives in the US are more about the means, and hence do not address any root change in the learning process. He then goes on to categorically define the problems in the first part of the book, and his ideas quite almost leap out of the pages in the second part of the book as he boldly architects a probable scenario of the future of education, in terms of its driving purpose.
In doing so, the author gives numerous examples to illustrate his points of view, while all the while admitting that the book is not an exhaustive list of ideas, rather an exhaustion of his mind! Quite a brilliantly written book that cannot but stop and make the reader think. It would be a very different world if every teacher in high school read this book and implemented just even a small part of it in their teaching and actions. In no ways a negative, it must be noted that Postman's religious beliefs and admiration for the US is thrown into sharp relief in his writings.
Lastly, this book gave me 13 books and 7 authors as a potential list to read up on, the book is verily a rich source of ideas and allows the reader to make his own reading list to explore some of the ideas in depth and reach his/her own path.
Rating: 4
Summary: The Purpose, or the Termination?
Comment: The title End of Education is not as cynical as I had
expected. I had interpreted "End" to mean "finish" although
the book is really more about the "purpose" and
priorities of our schools. Postman makes a well-argued
case for profound changes in our approach to public
education.
"The question is not Does or doesn't public schooling
create a public? The question is, What kind of public does
it create?" For me that is the most important premise
in this book, because people who don't understand our
history and our constitution, and who have no critical
thinking skills, are not going to be effective
participants in our democracy.
Another important point deals with multiculturalism vs.
cultural pluralism. Postman argues for a "constructive
and unifying use of diversity." American schools need
to create Americans, who appreciate the various cultural
backgrounds that make up our society, but divisiveness
created in the name of multiculturalism is counter-
productive.
The first half of this book discusses "gods" or narratives.
"...Teachers must have a god to serve, or, even better
several gods... Without a narrative, life has no meaning.
Without meaning, learning has no purpose." For example,
the god of Consumerism has been partially responsible
to steering our schools off course. Personally, I think
the god metaphor was belabored.
"Public education does not serve a public. It creates
a public." That's why schools play a critical role
in the future of our economy and our democracy.
And that's why this is such an important book.
Rating: 5
Summary: Fresh Perspective: 5 Goals for Education
Comment: Most of the current debate in education involves 'means': teaching methodologies, national testing, privatization, etc. This book focuses on a different, less frequently discussed aspect of the crisis in education: what should we be teaching in the first place?
Inherent in all cultures and activities are purposes that drive actions. For schools, its most common objectives (such as technological competence, consumership, acquisition of practical skills, and multiculturalism) have failed to inspire spiritual and intellectual learning. Postman proposes five concepts (humanity's place in the universe, independent thinking, America's form of government, diversity, understanding technology's impact) to focus education around that in a number of ways grapple with the most significant issues the world faces today.
Given the significance of education, and the fact that everyone is both directly and indirectly affected by its results, readers will find this an important and insightful book. It is especially excellent for educators seeking meaningful content and context for their lessons. Like all of Postman's writing, it is a concise, witty, and interesting read.
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Title: Teaching As a Subversive Activity by Neil Postman ISBN: 0385290098 Publisher: Delta Pub. Date: 15 July, 1971 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
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Title: Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business by Neil Postman ISBN: 0140094385 Publisher: Viking Press Pub. Date: November, 1986 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: The Disappearance of Childhood by Neil Postman ISBN: 0679751661 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 02 August, 1994 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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Title: Technopoly : The Surrender of Culture to Technology by Neil Postman ISBN: 0679745408 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 31 March, 1993 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
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Title: Conscientious Objections : Stirring Up Trouble About Language, Technology and Education by Neil Postman ISBN: 067973421X Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 03 March, 1992 List Price(USD): $11.00 |
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