Lions & Tigers & Inequality....Oh My!!
You know when you're having a great time living it up as a college student- making new friends, taking advantage of your independence, and trying new things? Yeah, it's a nice feeling....until you remember all of the loans you're gonna have to pay off when you're done here.
I'm sure I'm not only speaking for myself when I say that I can't wait to finish school and start my career; however, it would be nice if time could maybe slow the heck down!! We think we're struggling now trying to fit at least 2 solid meals in a day with our meal plans, but unfortunately, things will most likely get even more difficult once we graduate.
Ultimately, I believe that becoming a college student has allowed me to vividly see the economic burden which college fosters, thus assisting my connection to Noam Chomsky's claims. For example, in his fifth principle "Attacking Solidarity", Chomsky devotes five paragraphs to "The Attack on Public Education". He claims that "the public education system is under severe attack" (67), furthermore supporting this idea with examples and comparisons. Chomsky details the 50s and 60s as a period with "growth based on free public education". This growth ultimately stemmed from the creation of the GI Bill (permitting veterans to go to college for 'free'); however, even the GI Bill held factors of inequality. Chomsky then includes information from present day, describing how the "majority of funding for state colleges comes from students' tuition costs, rather than from the state itself". Therefore, it has become increasingly difficult for students to afford tuition costs, let alone the massive debt that surfaces after.
Through incorporating a comparison and contrast of the 50s/60s with present day, Chomsky further strengthens his credibility to speak on the topic of education. His description of the GI Bill illustrates his research done, thus establishing a sense of trust in his readers who desire his guidance in achieving equality. Additionally, Chomsky adds an anecdote which explains his journey through UPenn, which was essentially "free" during his time. Chomsky, garnering personal experience of a more promising past, expresses his suitability to draw a comparison with today's educational state. Although Ruggiero's "What is Evidence?" suggests that using personal experiences as evidence can lead the speaker to state overgeneralizations, Chomsky's recollection of events is rather succinct and holds no bias. Therefore, his inclusion of personal experience hold great power in its contribution to his overall argument that higher education can be made affordable.
Despite contributing to his argument, Noam Chomsky's rhetorical strategies of comparison/contrast, exemplification, and narrative illustrations significantly influence his audience. By learning of the corrupt system that state institutions have developed over time, Chomsky's readers become evoked with feelings of disbelief and anger. Chomsky's ultimate goal is to convince these readers of the corruption that persists behind closed doors, in an effort to galvanize them to demand change and equality. Their desired equality would exist between American citizens, wealthy and poor, as they strive for the youth of both backgrounds to have the same opportunities, especially the opportunity to attend/afford higher education.
I undoubtedly agree with Chomsky's claim that higher education can be made more affordable. Unfortunately, equal opportunities for everyone provide no fun for the masters of mankind. Although we (most likely) won't see a decrease in price of tuition throughout our years in higher education, I hope that some reform comes into play when it is time for our offspring to enter college.
I can relate a lot to what you wrote in your blog post, especially when it comes to the price of tuition and paying off student loans (the prices are ridiculous). Chomsky is really pulling at the heartstrings of his audience through pathos, and creating a clear division between the wealthy heartlessness of state institutions and powerless students who are forced to pay high amounts simply to get a job and survive in the modern United States. His own personal experience really creates credibility with his audience, relating as a once college students to many of his educated readers. In the end his use of rhetoric is incredibly successful, even having great power when he makes a claim with little to no evidence to support it. Chomsky's persuasion is so strong that evidence simply isn't needed.
ReplyDeleteAlso, in other terms, I too would love to see higher education be made more affordable, preferably ASAP. What college student doesn't?
I completely agree with all of the claims both you and Chomsky made. The evidence he provided gave me great trust in his experiences and the comparisons allowed me to look have how unjust the system today actually is. I was shocked to learn about the GI Bill and read about his personal recollections of his low tuition. I wish it was the same today! It makes me wonder where all of the money that used to be spent on education is going now? He mentions later that many conservatives want to essentially eradicate the government and spend money on military and business, with no regards for public education. It's a scary thought to think that people could be so selfish with their money and reduce the solidarity, as Chomsky described.
ReplyDeleteFor now, we all will suffer together in our debt. At least we're not alone, right?
I agree with the claims made within Chomsky's text, higher education is possible and affordable in todays's world, but the masters of mankind and the way our economy functions would not allow for this, despite the many benefits that could arise from it. I think Chomsky's referencing to his personal experience and the GI Bill of Rights goes to demonstrate how dismal the state of our economy has become, with little sympathy for lower classes of the economy. If everyone in society, wealthy or poor, was in favor of equality towards the way in which the economy was structured, things like an affordable education would be completely possible, but people refuse to see it that way, adding to the unfortunate nature of today's economy.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement that Chomsky is able to strengthen his credibility through him talking about his personal experience with the education system as he went to the University of Pennsylvania and how he talks about historical events such as the GI Bill and his personal experience to add facts to his argument that things were much different now than in the 1950s and 60s. I think that it was very helpful for the audience to know that Chomsky is a credible person who knows a lot about this subject so that they can believe in what he has to say about the public education system and the privatization going on in order to convince them that the upper class or super wealthy are trying to control more power and wealth which hurts the lower and middle working class people.
ReplyDeleteI think that all college students and college graduates can agree with Chomsky's claims made in the paragraphs of "The Attack of Public Education." Considering the fact that our class consists of college freshmen who are new and completely unaccustomed to the concept of student debt, the fact that Chomsky's evidence directly pertains to us makes his argument so convincing. By comparing the current public school system to the standards of the past, where education was relatively easy to attain and afford, Chomsky sparks a bit of anger in readers. This helps him convince the readers of him claim by making the problem of "attacking solidarity" a personal one. I think you analyzed Chomsky's evidence well and proved the validity of his claim making in his fifth principle.
ReplyDeleteGood intro! Relatable hook for all of us here. I used to think it was impossible for government subsidized to be economically possible, but Chomsky has shifted my viewpoint. He used several examples and compared American college costs both to that of itself from years ago, as well as other countries of the modern day. His use of personal experience adds to the discussion. The fact he is so old (not in a bad way) gives him a lot of credibility because he has experienced so many things first hand. He describes the 50-60's frequently which we feel he is qualified to talk about because of his age. His experience of the Great Depression is also very useful for him.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I love your title of the post. I was going through some and saw your title and therefore proceeded to continue reading. You did not disappoint with your short intro either. Second, I completely agree to what you mentioned about tuition and Chomsky’s claims and arguments. Going through college and allowing to experience more of what is introduced in the book gives a second perception of what is mentioned. Not only is Chomsky able to address the audience as he is in touch with the use of rhetorical devices and our generation, but he uses specific events that we have experienced, such as the burden of college tuition and I’ve also seen first-hand the pills given to students in impoverished places. I think one of the most effective ways Chomsky conveys his ideas is through the compare and contrast of time. For example, you mentioned the 50s and 60s. Us high schoolers have not been part of this time, we may have heard of a few ideas, however his narration and comparison between he time periods allow for a better analysis and evidence to his claims. Finally, I also agree that higher education could be made more affordable. Chomsky even listed many countries to which do currently have free education, France is even one of them (to which I do not recall him listing).
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