A Radical Proposal to Reinvigorate the Teaching of the Liberal Arts

Michael Wayne Santos

This book offers a clarion call, in the words of Franklin Roosevelt, to “try something!” And not just any something. A systematic, integrated, chronological, multi-disciplinary approach to reinvigorate the teaching of the liberal arts and put them back where they belong—at the center of a student’s educational experience. It does not pretend to offer a cure-all or a one-size-fits-all solution to everything that is ailing American higher education, or even secondary education. It does, however, offer a place to begin a discussion, to invite experimentation, and to initiate reform based on solid pedagogy and 2,500 years of time-tested wisdom in the human experience. As such it should be of interest to many people. Those in higher education serious about the crisis facing their institutions could benefit from taking up the gauntlet this volume throws down. For students and parents, the book raises alternatives and poses some hard questions that they should be asking not only as they consider colleges and universities, but of their secondary schools. In fact, anyone who keeps a close eye on the state of education would be interested in what this book adds to the discussion.

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 128 • Trim: 6⅜ x 9¼

978-1-4758-5808-2 • Hardback • September 2020 • $59.00 • (£45.00)

978-1-4758-5809-9 • Paperback • September 2020 • $31.00 • (£25.00)

978-1-4758-5810-5 • eBook • September 2020 • $29.50 • (£25.00)

Subjects: Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / Arts & Humanities, Education / Higher, Language Arts & Disciplines / Study & Teaching

A Radical Proposal to Reinvigorate the Teaching of the Liberal Arts

Hardback

Paperback

eBook

Summary

This book offers a clarion call, in the words of Franklin Roosevelt, to “try something!” And not just any something. A systematic, integrated, chronological, multi-disciplinary approach to reinvigorate the teaching of the liberal arts and put them back where they belong—at the center of a student’s educational experience. It does not pretend to offer a cure-all or a one-size-fits-all solution to everything that is ailing American higher education, or even secondary education. It does, however, offer a place to begin a discussion, to invite experimentation, and to initiate reform based on solid pedagogy and 2,500 years of time-tested wisdom in the human experience. As such it should be of interest to many people. Those in higher education serious about the crisis facing their institutions could benefit from taking up the gauntlet this volume throws down. For students and parents, the book raises alternatives and poses some hard questions that they should be asking not only as they consider colleges and universities, but of their secondary schools. In fact, anyone who keeps a close eye on the state of education would be interested in what this book adds to the discussion.

Details

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 128 • Trim: 6⅜ x 9¼

978-1-4758-5808-2 • Hardback • September 2020 • $59.00 • (£45.00)

978-1-4758-5809-9 • Paperback • September 2020 • $31.00 • (£25.00)

978-1-4758-5810-5 • eBook • September 2020 • $29.50 • (£25.00)

Subjects: Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / Arts & Humanities, Education / Higher, Language Arts & Disciplines / Study & Teaching

Author

Michael Wayne Santos is a professor of history. During his career, he has been recognized for outstanding teaching and spearheaded several innovative educational programs at the University of Lynchburg.

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgements

Introduction: “If I Could Do It All Over Again . . .”

Chapter 1: The Current Crisis in Higher Education

Chapter 2: The Cost of Doing Business

Chapter 3: What Should Be Common Sense about Education

Chapter 4: A Radical Proposal

Chapter 5: Addressing Objections to the Proposal

Chapter 6: The First Two Years of the Program: A Student’s Eye View

Chapter 7: To Graduation and Beyond: A Student’s Eye View Continued

Chapter 8: Beyond Platitudes: Remembering What It Is All About

Bibliography

A Radical Proposal to Reinvigorate the Teaching of the Liberal Arts

Michael Wayne Santos

A Radical Proposal to Reinvigorate the Teaching of the Liberal Arts

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