Monthly Archives: January 2015

Kathryn Tyler is a freelance writer with a background in human resources training (Tyler 469). She considers herself part of Generation X, which is the generation that follows Generation Y. Generation X being the children of the 2000’s or “millennials”, and Generation Y being those born between 1980 and 1999 (Arguments 468). In her essay “Tethered Generations”, she discusses how millennials’ dependency on technology and the relationship with their peers and parents that resulted from that dependency affect employers and the workforce today. Tyler’s background in Human resources would suggest her thesis is valid. She gives multiple examples and statistics as well as testimonials from other human resources professionals, writers, employers,  and psychologists alike to support her claim. For example, she provides a testimonial from Robert Epstein, an editor for Psychology Today. This essay is extremely applicable to myself and those of Generation X because it reveals the problems and tendencies of our generation and how employers may adapt to our generation. There is one enthymeme when Tyler talks about a male’s prefrontal lobe developing well into their twenties. No supporting evidence is given as well as any clear reason as to why this is valid. With the exception of the enthymeme, every argument or claim made is supported with testimonials from credible sources and facts. Tyler employs the use of logos rather than ethos, thoroughly explaining each claim and focusing more on the quality of the support for her claims than character. Overall, the essay is well-versed and well-written, utilizing no logical fallacies at all.

Having studied at the University of Recife, and teaching at Harvard University, Paulo Freire’s credentials are outstanding, proving more than capable in this subject matter. Paulo Freire was a twentieth-century educator and philosopher who advocated critical pedagogy. Critical pedagogy is basically going against traditional schooling and views learning to be best implemented by experience. Further, critical pedagogy advocated a new, albeit good, relationship with fellow students and the teacher, rather than seeing the teacher as “authority”. Critical pedagogy references and possesses many themes regarding oppression, society, authority, rebellion, and  deceit. It (and Paulo) view traditional schooling has oppressive to society. The source, “The ‘Banking’ Concept of Education”, discusses how traditional education is like banking; the depositor (teacher) deposits knowledge or information to the bank (students). It also talks of how this way of education doesn’t actually help because students are memorizing, not “experiencing”. Though different, this article could be relatable to many of those not satisfied with the education system in our country today, particularly those who push for education reform. The source offers excellent analysis of the traditional schooling system and its faults while explaining how critical pedagogy would be more effective and in Paulo’s eyes, morally and socially correct.

Education is more than just learning new things, or rather is not learning new things. What most kids today would agree on is that education is the measure of how much one can memorize, rather than a measure of intelligence. Despite the animosity teenagers and children alike today have for education, society still deems it important. Why is this? Is it because I would not be able to get a decent, well-paying job without an education? Perhaps. But that is precisely the reason kids (including myself) don’t particularly find education to be appealing or fun. Don’t get me wrong, education is important. Society should know their history, how to read, write and speak well, and be capable in mathematics. Though education, particularly college education, appeal is completely subjective, most adolescents today would agree that education should be tailored to what they want to learn while keeping intact what they need to learn. For example, in my own college experience I learned about ancient civilizations and their diets. This is something I had no care or passion for. I wasted time in both college and high school learning things that I wouldn’t need in regular day to day life that could have been spent learning about computer sciences (my passion in life). Finally, a change that should be implemented in the education system is survival tactics and defense training. The world will forever be turmoil, chaos, and war; in short, a constant fight. So, children today should know how to survive and defend themselves.