MODULE 1
WEEK 3
CONTEXT CLUES, SKIMMING, SCANNING, ANNOTATING
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the module you are expected to:
1. guess the meaning of words through context clues
2. get the general idea of a written text
3. annotate written texts
PRE-ASSESSMENT
What do you think will be discussed in “The Marks of an Educated Man” as can be
inferred from the title?
READING NO. 2
1. On your first reading of the article, do the following activities:
a. circle all the unfamiliar words as you encounter them
b. on the right side of each paragraph, write what you think these words mean and the
clues that made you think so
c. verify their meanings with the use of a dictionary
2. On your second reading of the article, do the following activities:
a. highlight or underline any concept you want to talk more about
b. label the highlighted or underlined concept as fact, opinion, etc. depending on the
type of discussion you have made
c. paraphrase or summarize the main idea of each paragraph
d. after each summary, write your comment which may include
agreement/disagreement, related personal experiences, connection with other texts,
etc.
GRADED FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT NO. 1 (60 points)
The Marks of an Educated Man
By Alan Simpson
unfamiliar
words, meaning
and justification
1 Alan Simpson (1972-), president of Vassar College, was born
in England but became a naturalized citizen of the United States in
1954. He was educated at Oxford University and Harvard University
and was a professor of history at the University of Chicago from
1946-1964. His books include Puritanism in Old and New England
(1961) and Readings in the Formulation of American Policy (1949),
of which he was co-editor.
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
Alan Simpson (1972-), Vassar College's president, was born in England but became a United
States naturalized citizen in 1954. He was educated at Oxford University and Harvard
University, and from 1946-1964 he was a history professor at the University of Chicago. His
books include Puritanism in Old and New England (1961) and Readings in American Policy
Formulation (1949), for which he was co-editor.
Puritanism
Since i don’t know the word, the meaning that I have thought of is that Puritanism basically
means being pure to something or to someone.
Britannica Dictionary:
In the late 16th and 17th centuries, the religious reform movement aimed to "purify"
the Church of England from the remains of the Roman Catholic "popery"
Comments
I salute him having those kinds of profession in life, because everyone would want to
have that kind of profession. Even though he was naturalized as a citizen in the United
States he would still go back to his country and do his parts and would also do his parts
in in the US.
2 Simpson’s description of an educated man goes back to the
Renaissance ideal that placed equal stress on the mental, moral, and
physical excellence of human beings.
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
Simpson 's definition of an educated man goes back to the
Renaissance ideal which put equal stress on human mental, moral,
and physical excellence.
Comments
Being an educated man, everything that we do place an equal part in everything, because
that is how you educate yourself and practice yourself on how you would be in the future.
3 Any education that matters is liberal. All the saving truths and
healing graces that distinguish a good education from a bad one or a
full education from a half-empty one is contained in that word.
Whatever ups and downs that term “liberal” suffers in the political
vocabulary, it soars above all controversy in the educational world. In
the blackest pits of pedagogy, the squirming victim has only to ask,
“What’s liberal about this?” to shame his persecutors. In times past a
liberal education set off a free man from a slave or a gentleman from
laborers and artisans. It now distinguishes whatever nourishes the
mind and spirit from the training, which is merely practical, or
professional, or from the trivialities which are no training at all. Such
an education involves a combination of knowledge, skills, and
standards.
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
Any education that matters is usually liberal. This word contains all
the saving truths and healing graces that differentiate a good
education from a poor one, or a total education from a half-empty
one. Despite the ups and downs in the political language the word
'liberal' suffers, Above all, it creates tension in the education sector.
The squirming survivor has only to inquire in the blackest pits of
pedagogy, "What's Liberal about this? "To blame those who
persecute him. A liberal education in the past set off a free man
from a slave, or a gentleman from laborers and craftsmen. It now
distinguishes something that nourishes the mind and spirit from the
training that is merely practical, or technical, or from the trivialities
that are not at all a training. Such education requires a blend of
awareness, skills, and expectations.
Pedagogy
Hardships, I think that is the meaning of that word because it was stated that “the blackest
pits of pedagogy” so I thought that maybe they are experiencing hardships on what they are
doing.
Britannica Dictionary
Analysis of instructional approaches like developmental objectives and means of meeting
those goals.
Trivialities
We could see by the word itself trivia, or some information's that are important
Based on a dictionary
There is lack of seriousness or importance on something that is being talked about
Comments
Whatever you are going through in studying whether you are having a hard time on the path that
you are taking, whether you are having a goodtime, everything would be wonderful because that
would help prepare you in the future.
4 So far as knowledge is concerned, the record is ambiguous. It
is sufficiently confused for the fact-filled freak who excels in quiz
shows to have passed himself off in some company as an educated
man. More respectable is the notion that there are some things which
every educated man ought to know; but many highly educated men
would cheerfully admit to a vast ignorance, and the framers of
curriculums have differed greatly in the knowledge they prescribe. If
there have been times when all the students at school or college
studied the same things, as if it were obvious that without exposure to
a common body of knowledge they would not be educated at all, there
have been other times when specialization ran so wild that it might
almost seem as if educated men had abandoned the thought of never
talking to each other once their education was completed.
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
The record is ambiguous, in terms of knowledge. It is confused
enough for the fact-filled freak, who excels in quiz shows, to have
passed himself off as an educated man in some company. More
respectable is the notion that there are certain things every educated
man should know about; But many highly educated men would
joyfully admit to vast ignorance, and the curriculum framers have
greatly differed in the knowledge they prescribe. If there were times
when all the students at school or college learned the same things,
as if it were clear that they wouldn't be educated at all without
exposure to a common body of information, there were other
occasions when specialization went so wild that it could almost seem
as if educated men had abandoned the idea of never talking to each
other until their education was completed.
Comments
Yes, it’s true a student who is not exposed in many types of education It wouldn’t help that
student grow because there is a limited source of activity. But having the student to be able
to enjoy or have that kind of education where they have many sources that would really help
them grow.
5 If knowledge is one of our marks, we can hardly be dogmatic
about the kind or the amount. A single fertile field tilled with care and
imagination can probably develop all the instincts of an educated man.
However, if the framer of a curriculum wants to minimize his risks, he
can invoke an ancient doctrine which holds that an educated man
ought to know a little about everything and a lot about something.
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
If knowledge is one of our marks, the kind or amount of knowledge
we can hardly be dogmatic about. A single fertile field tilled with
care and imagination is likely to develop all of an educated man's
instincts. But if a curriculum framer wants to minimize his risks, he
can invoke an ancient doctrine that holds that an educated man
should know a little about everything and a lot about something.
Comments
I can’t understand this sentence.
6 The “little about everything” is best interpreted these days by
those who have given most thought to the sort of general education an
informed individual ought to have. More is required than a sampling
of the introductory courses which specialists offer in their own
disciplines. Courses are needed in each of the major divisions of
knowledge – the humanities, the natural sciences, and social sciences-
which are organized with the breadth of view and the imaginative
power of competent staffs who understand the needs of interested
amateurs. But, over and above this exciting smattering of knowledge,
students should bite deeply into at least on subject and taste its full
flavor. It is not enough to be dilettantes in everything without striving
also to be craftsmen in something.
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
These days the "little about everything" is best interpreted by those
who have given the most thought to the kind of general education
an informed individual should have. More is needed than a
sampling of the introductory courses offered by specialists within
their own disciplines. Courses are required in each of the major
knowledge divisions – the humanities, the natural sciences and the
social sciences Organized with the wide-ranging vision and
imaginative power of competent staff who understand the needs of
interested amateurs. But, beyond this exciting smattering of
knowledge, students should bite deeply into the subject at least, and
taste its full flavor. It is not sufficient to be dilettantes in everything
without also striving to be craftsmen in something.
Comments
In every parts of our lives everything little things is really important, because that little
things could make a huge difference in our lives.
7 If there is some ambiguity about the knowledge an educated
man should have, there is none at all about the skills. The first is
simply the training of the mind in the capacity to think clearly. This
has always been the business of education, but the way it is done
varies enormously. Marshalling the notes of a lecture in one
experience; the opportunity to argue with a teacher is another.
Thinking within an accepted tradition is one thing; to challenge the
tradition itself is another. The best results are achieved when the idea
of the examined life is held firmly before the mind and when the
examination is conducted with the zest, rigor, and freedom which
really stretches everyone’ capacities.
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
If the information that an educated man should have is somewhat unclear, there is none at all
on the skills. The first is merely the theoretical preparation in the ability to think clearly.
That's always been the education sector, but the way it's done varies greatly. In one
experience Marshalling the notes of a lecture; another is the opportunity to argue with a
teacher. One thing is to think within an agreed tradition; questioning the tradition itself is
another. One thing is to think about an agreed tradition; questioning the tradition itself is
another. The best outcomes are obtained when the conception of the life being studied is held
firmly before the mind and when the analysis is performed with the zest, rigor, and equality
that truly exceeds the capacities of all.
Comments
We should always learn how to study every bits of lessons that we would be happy because one
information that would be missing would make things worse.
8 The vital aid to clear thought is the habit of approaching everything we hear and
everything we are taught to believe with a certain skepticism. The method of using doubt as an
examiner is a familiar one among scholars and scientists, but it is also the best protection which a
citizen has against the cant and humbug that surround us.
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
The critical help to clear thinking is the practice of treating with some skepticism all that we
hear and all that we are told to believe. The approach of using doubt as an interviewer is
common to scholars and scientists, but it is also the strongest defense a person has against the
surrounding cant and humbug.
Comments
Having a clear thinking would be a huge practice because that
would help you do things in a very smooth way, because if its not
clear everything would just fall apart and you wouldn’t understand
anything.
9 To be able to listen to a phony argument and to see its
dishonesty is surely one of the marks of an educated man. We may not
need to be educated to possess some of this quality. A shrewd peasant
was always well enough protected against imposters in the market
place, and we have all sorts of businessmen who have made
themselves excellent judges of phoniness without the benefit of a high
school diploma; but this kind of shrewdness goes along without a
great deal of credulity. Outside the limited field within which
experience has taught the peasant or the illiterate businessman his
lessons, he is often hopelessly gullible. The educated man, by contrast,
has tried to develop a critical faculty for general use, and he likes to
think that he is fortified against imposture in all its forms.
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
To be able to listen to a false statement and see its dishonesty is definitely one of an educated
man's hallmarks. To possess any of that quality we do not need to be taught. A shrewd peasant
has always been well enough secured in the marketplace against imposters, and we have all
kinds of businessmen who have made themselves excellent phoning judges without a high
school diploma; Yet this sort of shrewdness goes without much credulity. He is also hopelessly
gullible outside the small area beyond which experience has taught his lessons to the peasant
or to the illiterate businessman. In comparison, the learned man has attempted to build a vital
faculty for general use, and he likes to think in all its ways that he is protected against
imposture.
Comments
Listen to any arguments that you would be encountering, because that is very important.
10 It does not matter for our purposes whether to imposter is a
deliberate liar or not. Some are, but the commonest enemies of
mankind are the unconscious frauds. Most salesmen under the
intoxication of their own exuberance seem to believe in what they say.
Most experts whose expertise is only a pretentious sham behave as if
they had been solemnly inducted into some kind of priesthood. Very
few demagogues are so cynical as to remain undeceived by their own
rhetoric, and some of the worst tyrants in history have been fatally
sincere. We can leave the disentanglement of motives to the students
of fraud and error, but we cannot afford to be taken in by the shams.
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
Whether imposter is a deliberate liar or not doesn't matter for our
purposes. Some are, but the unconscious frauds are the commonest
enemies of civilization. Many salespeople seem to believe in what
they claim, under the haze of their own exuberance. Many experts
whose knowledge is merely a pretentious hoax act as if they were
solemnly inducted into some form of priesthood. Very few
demagogues are so cynical that they remain undeceived by their
own propaganda and some of history's worst tyrants were fatally
sincere. We may leave the manipulation of motives to the students of
fraud and mistake, but we cannot afford to be caught up in by the
shams.
Comments
Noone is bad or fraud in everyone, some of them do it because they
don’t have anything to do anymore and that is one way that they are
doing it and to earn money.
11 We are, of course, surrounded by shams. Until recently the
schools were full of them- the notion that education can be had
without tears, that puffed rice is a better intellectual diet than oatmeal,
that adjustment to the group is more important than knowing where
the group is going, and that democracy has made it a sin to separate
the sheep from the goats. Mercifully, these are much less evident now
than they were before Sputnik startled us into our wits.
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
Of course, we are surrounded by shams. Until recently the schools
were full of them- the notion that education can be had without
crying, that puffed rice is a better intellectual diet than oatmeal, that
group change is more important than knowing where the group is
going, and that democracy has made it a sin to distinguish the sheep
from the goats. Mercifully, these are now far less noticeable than
they were before Sputnik hit us in our wits.
Comments
Every adjustment that would be done we should all know that,
everyone should be part of that change, no one should be left behind
12 In front of the professor are the shams of the learned fraternity.
There is the sham science of the social scientist who first invented a
speech for fuddling thought and then proceeded to tell us in his lock
jawed way what we already knew. There is the sham humanism of the
humanist who wonders why civilization that once feasted at his table
is repelled by the shredded and desiccated dishes that often lie on it
today. There is the sham message of the physical scientist who feels
that his mastery of nature has made him an expert in politics and
morals, and there are all the other brands of hokum which have
furnished material for satire since the first quacks established
themselves in the first cloisters.
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
The shams of the learned fraternity stand before the professor.
There's the social scientist's sham science that first invented a
speech for fuddling thinking and then continued to tell us what we
already understood in his lock jawed manner. There is the
humanist's hypocritical humanism asking why culture, once fested
at his table, is being repelled by the torn and desiccated dishes that
sometimes lie on it today. There is the physical scientist's hoax
message that he thinks his knowledge of nature has made him an
expert in politics and morality and there are all the other hokum
brands that have been furnishing satirical material since the first
quacks settled in the first cloisters.
Hokum
Items or objects that are passed down from the family (Ancestry)
Merriam Webster Dictionary
: a device used (as by showmen) to evoke a desired audience response
Comments
Everything that is being invented there would always be a hoax or someone would say that’s
it’s fake. And because of that it's hard to be able to invent something there would be people
that will easily contradict it.
13 If this is true of universities with their solemn vows and
limited temptations, how much truer is it for the naughty world
outside, where the prizes are far more dazzling and the only protection
against humbug is the skepticism of the ordinary voter, customer,
reader, listener, and viewer? Of course, the follies of human nature are
not going to be exorcised by anything that the educator can do, and I
am not sure that they would want to exorcise them if he could. There
is something irresistibly funny about the old Adam, and life would be
duller without his antics. But they ought to be kept within bounds. We
are none the better for not recognizing a clown when we see one.
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
If this is true of universities with their solemn vows and restricted
temptations, how much truer is it for the naughty outside world,
where the rewards are much brighter and the only defense against
humbug is the cynicism of ordinary voters, consumers, readers,
listeners, and viewers? Of course, nothing that the instructor can do
can exorcize the follies of human nature; And I am not sure if he
does, they 'd want to exorcise them. There's something irresistibly
amusing about the old Adam and without his shenanigans, life will
be duller. But they should be kept within limits. We are no safer for
failing to know a clown when we see one.
Comments
Just what have I said a while ago students should be more exposed on the outside world not
only focusing inside the school, because there are a lot of things outside of the school that
should be taught
14 The other basic skill is simply the art of self-expression in
speech and on paper. A man is educated who has mastered the
elements of clean forcible prose and picked up some relish for style.
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
The other fundamental ability in speech and on paper is actually the
art of self-expression. A man is taught, who mastered the elements
of tidy, forced prose and picked up some style relish.
Comments
Everyone teaches themselves on everything by themselves, and by
that we slowly learn things on our own.
15 It is a curious fact that we style everything in this country- our
cars, our homes, our clothes- except our minds. They still chug along
like a Model T- rugged, persevering, but far from graceful.
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
It's a fascinating fact that in this country, we style everything-our vehicles, our homes, our
clothes except our minds. They always chug along like a tough, persevering Model T- but far
from graceful.
16 No doubt this appeal for style, like the appeal for clear
thinking, can be carried too far. There was once an American who said
that the only important thing in life was “to set a chime of words
ringing in a few fastidious minds.” As far as can be learned, he left
this country in a huff to tinkle his little bell in a foreign land. Most of
us would think that he lacked a sense of proportion. After all, the
political history of this country is full of good judgment expressed in
bad prose, and the business history has smashed through to some of its
grandest triumphs across acres of broken syntax. But we can discard
some of these frontier manners without becoming absurdly precious.
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
That appeal for style, like the appeal for clear thinking, can undoubtedly be carried too far.
Once upon a time there was an American who said that the only important thing in life was
"to set a chime of words ringing in a few fastidious minds." He left this country in a huff, so
far as it can be learned, to tinkle his little bell in a foreign land. Most of us believe he lacked a
sense of proportion. After all, this country's political history is full of good judgment
expressed in bad prose, and
business history has smashed through acres of broken syntax to some of its greatest triumphs
across. But some of these frontier manners we can discard without becoming absurdly
precious.
Fastidious
I think the meaning of this is that you think really fast or you have the capability to think
about a topic and you are able to explain it and give examples.
Merriam Webster dictionary
: having high and often capricious standards: difficult to please
17 The road ahead bristles with obstacles. There is the reluctance of many people to use one
word where they can get away with a half dozen or a word of one syllable if they can find a
longer one. No one has ever told them about the first rule of English composition: every
slaughtered syllable is a good deed. The most persuasive teachers of this maxim are undoubtedly
the commercial firms that offer a thousand dollars for the completion of a slogan in twenty-five
words. They are the only people who are putting id - a handsome premium on economy of
statement.
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
The path ahead is gnawing with obstacles. Many people are hesitant to use a single word if
they can get away with a half dozen or a word with a syllable if they can find a longer one. No
one ever told them of English composition's first rule: every slaughtered syllable is a good
deed. There is no doubt that the most persuasive teachers of this maxim are the commercial
firms which give A thousand dollars in twenty-five words, to complete the slogan. They are the
only people who put I d-a beautiful statement economy premium.
18 There is the decay of the habit of memorizing good prose and
good poetry in the years when tastes are being formed. It is very
difficult to write a bad sentence if the Bible has been a steady
companion and very easy to imagine a well-turned phrase if the ear
has been tuned on enough poetry.
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
The habit of memorizing good prose and good poetry in the years when tastes are established
is decaying. Writing a bad sentence is very difficult if the Bible has been a steady friend, and it
is very easy to imagine a well-turned word if the ear has been tuned on enough poetry.
Comments
Memorizing sometimes can be really difficult because it would really take up your time,
but it is really useful or very helpful to our lives, because we could really remember some
very important details.
19 There is the monstrous proliferation of gobbled-gook in
government, business, and the professions. Take this horrible example
of verbal smog.
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
In government, industry, and the professions there's the monstrous abundance of gobbled-
gook. Take the horrific example of verbal smog.
Proliferation
Continuous number of problems that are being encountered in the government.
Merriam’s webster dictionary
: characterized by or given to the expression of opinions very strongly or positively as if they
were facts
Gobbled-gook
Some type of word that you would see in or read on jargons
Merriam’s webster dictionary
: wordy and generally unintelligible jargon
20 It is inherent to motivational phenomena that there is a drive
for more gratification than is realistically possible, on any level or in
any type of personality organization. Likewise, it is inherent to the
world of objects that not all potentially desirable opportunities can be
realized within a human life span. Therefore, any personality must
involve an organization that allocates opportunities for gratification
that systematizes precedence relative to the limited possibilities. The
possibilities of gratification, simultaneously or sequentially, of all
need-dispositions are severely limited by the structure of the object
system and by the intra systemic incompatibility of the consequences
of gratifying them all.
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
Motivational phenomena are inherent in that there is a desire for greater pleasure than is
theoretically conceivable, at any stage or in any form of organization of personality. It is
equally
implicit in the world of objects that not all potentially desirable opportunities can be achieved
within a span of human life. Any personality must therefore include an organization, which
allocates opportunities A gratification which systematizes priority over limited possibilities.
The
possibilities of gratification of all need-disposition, simultaneously or sequentially, are
seriously restricted by the nature of the system of objects and the intra-systemic
incompatibility of the consequences of gratifying them all.
21 What this smothered soul is trying to say is simply, “We must
pick and choose, because we cannot have everything we want.”
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
What this smothered soul is trying to say is clearly, "We have to pick and choose, because we
can't get what we want."
22 Finally, there is the universal employment of the objective test
as part of the price which has to be paid for mass education. Nothing
but the difficulty of finding enough readers to mark essays can
condone a system which reduces a literate student to the ignoble
necessity of “blackening the answer space” when he might be giving
his mind and pen free play. Though we have managed to get some
benefits for these examinations, the simple fact remains that the
shapely prose of the Declaration of Independence or the “Gettysburg
Address” was never learned under an educational system which
employed objective tests. It was mastered by people who took writing
seriously, who had good models in front of them, good critics to judge
them, and an endless capacity for taking pains. Without that sort of
discipline, the arts of self-expression will remain as mutilated as they
are now.
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
Lastly, there is the compulsory use of the objective test as part of the price charged for mass
education. Nothing but the difficulty of finding enough readers to mark essays can justify a
scheme that reduces a literate student to the ignoble necessity of "blackening the space of
speech" when he should be giving free play to his mind and pen. And if we managed to get
some benefits the simple Fact remains, for these examinations, that the shapely prose of the
Declaration of Independence or of the "Gettysburg Address" was never learned under an
educational system that used objective tests. It was learned by people who took serious writing,
who had good models before them, strong critics to judge them, and an infinite willingness to
take pains. Without that sort of discernment Discipline, the art of self-expression remains
as mutilated as it is now
23 The standards which mark an educated man can be expressed
in terms of three tests:
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
Three tests may express the standards which define an educated man:
24 The first is a matter of sophistication. Emerson put it nicely
when he talked about getting rid of “the nonsense of our wigwams.”
The wigwam may be an uncultivated home, a suburban conformity, a
crass patriotism, or a cramped dogma. Some of this nonsense withers
in the classroom. More of it rubs off by simple mixing with people,
provided they are drawn from a wide range of backgrounds and
exposed within a good college to a civilized tradition. An educated
man can be judged by the quality of his prejudices. There is a refined
nonsense which survives the raw nonsense which Emersion was
talking about.
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
The first is about complexity. Emerson put it beautifully when he spoke of getting rid of "our
wigwams' nonsense." The wigwam may be an uncultivated house, a suburban ghetto, a crass
populism, or a cramped ideology. In the classroom, some of the nonsense withers away. More
of it merges with individuals, because they are drawn from a wide variety of backgrounds and
exposed to the civilized tradition inside a good institution. The nature of its biases can be
measured by an educated man. There is a refined nonsense which survives the raw nonsense
of which Emersion spoke.
25 The second test is a matter of moral values. Though we all
know individuals who have contrived to be both highly educated and
highly immoral, and though we have all heard of periods in history
when the subtlest resources of wit and sophistication were employed
to make a mockery of simple values, We do not really believe that a
college is doing its job when it is simply multiplying the number of
educated scoundrels, hucksters, and triflers.
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
The second exam is about the universal principles. While we all know individuals who have
endeavored to be highly trained and highly unethical, and although we have all heard of times
in history where the most subtle means of humor and intellect were employed to make a
mockery of basic principles, We do not really believe that a college is doing its job simply by
multiplying the number of trained scoundrels, hucksters, and trifles.
26 The health of society depends on simple virtues like honesty,
decency, courage, and public spirit. There are forces in human nature
which constantly tend to corrupt them, and every age has its own
vices. The worst feature of ours is probably the obsession with
violence. Up to some such time as 1914, it was possible to believe in a
kind of moral progress. The quality which distinguished the Victorian
from the Elizabethan was a sensitivity to suffering and a revulsion
from cruelty which greatly enlarged the idea of human dignity. Since
1914 we have steadily brutalized ourselves. The horrors of modern
war, the bestialities of modern political creeds, the uncontrollable
vices of modern cities, the favorite themes of modern novelists- all
have conspired to degrade us. Some of the corruption is blatant. The
authors of the best sellers, after exhausting all the possibilities of sex
in its normal and abnormal forms and all the variation of alcoholism
and drug addiction, are about to invade the recesses of the hospitals. A
clinical study of a hero undergoing the irrigation of his colon is about
all there is left to gratify a morbid appetite.
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
Society's wellbeing depends on basic values such as integrity, dignity, bravery and public
spirit. Human nature has powers that continually seek to corrupt them and each age has its
own vices. Perhaps our weakest characteristic is the fascination with aggression. It was
possible to believe in a kind of moral change until sometime such as 1914. The characteristic
that separated the Victorian from the Elizabethan was a sensitivity to misery and a revulsion
from cruelty that broadened the concept of human dignity considerably. We have been
continually brutalizing ourselves since 1914. The horrors of modern war, the bestiality of
modern political values, the uncontrollable vices of modern cities, the favorite themes of
modern novelists have all conspired to degrade us. Any of the corruption is flagrant. The
writers of the best sellers are about to enter the recesses of the clinics, after exploring all the
possibilities of sex in its usual and uncommon manifestations and all the combinations of
alcoholism and opioid abuse. A clinical study of a hero enduring his colon irrigation is about
everything left for a morbid appetite to be gratified by.
27 Some of the corruption is insidious. A national columnist
recently wrote an article in praise of cockfighting. He had visited a
cockfight in the company of Ernest Hemingway. After pointing out
that Hemingway had made bullfighting respectable, he proceeded to
describe the terrible beauty of fierce indomitable birds trained to kill
each other for the excitement of the spectators. Needless to say, there
used to be a terrible beauty about Christians defending themselves
against lions or about heretics being burned at the stake, and there are
still parts of the world where a public execution is regarded as a richly
satisfying feast. But for three or four centuries the West taught itself to
resist these excitements in the interest of a moral idea.
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
Any of the bribery is subtle. A national columnist recently wrote a
cockfighting article in appreciation. He had visited Ernest
Hemingway 's company for a cockfight. He went on to explain the
awful beauty of fierce indomitable birds prepared to kill each other
for the amusement of the spectators, after finding out that
Hemingway had made the bullfighting respectable. Needless to say,
there used to be a terrible beauty about Christians defending
themselves against lions or about heretics being burned on the
stake, and there are still parts of the world where a public execution
is considered a richly fulfilling feast. But the West taught itself to
avoid these excitements for three or four centuries in the pursuit of
a good principle.
28 Educators are needlessly squeamish about their duty to uphold
moral values and needlessly perplexed about how to implant them.
The corruptions of our times are sufficient warning that we cannot
afford to abandon the duty to the home and the churches, and the
capacity which many institutions have shown to do their duty in a
liberal spirit is a sufficient guaranty against bigotry.
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
Educators are overly squeamish about their responsibility to uphold fundamental principles
and overly perplexed as to how to incorporate them. The corruptions of our times are enough
alert that we can't afford to give up the responsibility to the home and the churches, and the
willingness that many institutions have shown to do their responsibility in a liberal spirit is a
good guarantee against bigotry.
29 Finally, there is the test imposed by the unique challenge of
our own times. We are not unique in suffering from moral confusions-
these crises are a familiar story- but we are unique in the tremendous
acceleration of the rate of social change and in the tremendous risk of
a catastrophic end to all our hopes. We cannot afford educated men
who have every grace except the gift for survival. An indispensable
mark of the modern educated man is the kind of versatile, flexible
mind that can deal with new and explosive conditions.
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
Finally, there is the test set by our own particular challenge. We are not unusual in suffering
from moral confusion — these crises are a common story — but we are exceptional in the
enormous acceleration of social change pace and the unprecedented possibility of a disastrous
end to all our expectations. We cannot afford trained men with all graces other than the gift of
life. The kind of versatile, agile mind that can cope with new and volatile situations is an
indispensable hallmark of the modern educated man.
30 With this reserve, there is little in this profile which has not
been familiar for centuries. Unfortunately, the description which one
sufficed to suggest its personality has been debased in journalistic
currency. The “well-rounded man” has become the organization man,
or the man who is so well rounded that he rolls wherever he is pushed.
The humanists who invented the idea and preached it for centuries
would recoil in contempt from any such notion. They understood the
possibilities of the whole man and wanted an educational system
which would give the many sides of his nature some chance to
develop in harmony. They thought it a good idea to mix the wisdom of
the world with the learning of the cloister, to develop the body as well
as the mind, to pay a great deal of attention to character, and to the
spacious idea which offered every hospitality to creative energy.
Anyone who is seriously interested in liberal education must begin by
rediscovering it.
Paraphrase/Summary and Comment:
There is little in that profile with this reserve that hasn't been common for decades.
Unfortunately, in journalistic currency the description that one sufficed to suggest its
personality has been debased. The "well-rounded man" has become the man of the company,
or the guy who is rounded so well that he rolls everywhere he is moved. The humanists who
invented the concept and advocated it for decades would recoil from any such notion in
disgust. They recognized the potential of the whole individual, and wanted an educational
system that would offer some chance to grow in harmony to the many sides of his existence.
They thought it was a good idea to combine the world's wisdom with the cloister 's learning, to
improve the body as well as the mind, to pay much attention to character, and to the spacious
idea that offered creative energy to any hospitality. Anyone who has a serious interest in
liberal education should begin by rediscovering it.
Dictionaries used:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/
https://www.britannica.com/
See the rubric attached:
