COMMON SENSE IN EDUCATION

by Harry Kemelman ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 7, 1970

Mr. Kemelman, of that favorite Rabbi continuity, is a teacher of guessably some forty years' experience and he questions the origins of the current student protest whose ""extent of violence (is) out of keeping with the significance of the ostensible cause."" The cause, or causes, he attributes to a system of education which derogates the liberal arts and social sciences in favor of the 100% predictability and conformity of the exact sciences; to the processes of admissions and testing and marksmanship; to the various pressures which descend from the ""prestige"" colleges to lower education and rise up again to professional schools--all contributing to the overburdening guilt of the student today and his disaffection and default. While one will readily agree with Mr. Kemelman that the changes made in the past year are only concessions, his overall proposal seems difficult to translate into actuality. . . namely that the liberal arts college must resume some of its earlier importance and must no longer be just a preparatory school for graduate institutions or a stepping-stone for industry or a specialized ""training school."" Standards throughout the field of education must be equalized. . . . While the practical implementation here is sketchy, many will find Mr. Kemelman's criticisms reassuring, particularly since they are leveled in an eminently reasonable fashion.

Pub Date: June 7, 1970

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Crown

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1970

Categories: NONFICTION