The End of Education

Postman’s The End of Education brings readers through the cons of todays educational system, pinpointing where education suffers the most due to modern day ideals. Postman explains that there are three narratives, or gods, of modern day education, that are destroying todays schools. The three modern-day narratives, known as the gods of Economic Utility, Multiculturalism and Technology all contribute to Postman’s belief in the inevitable “end of education”.

Primarily, Postman argues about the god of economic utility, and perhaps the most important narrative in my opinion. This particular god “guarantees” students an ultimatum: if you work hard in high school, you will be successful in your future monetarily. This narrative essentially is seen as detrimental to education as it guarantees students to work towards an economic goal, not to work hard for a love and passion of learning. This narrative also is unrealistic, as jobs are becoming less and less about your alma mater, and more about your physical experience in that certain skill. 

Secondly, the god of multiculturalism worries Postman, as he believes it "makes cultural diversity an exclusive preoccupation" (Postman 51). In a simpler sense, through this Postman means that multiculturalism is essentially harmful to the educational system as it implies that the idea of diversity and acceptance should only be applied at school and nowhere else in your everyday life.

Lastly, Postman speaks about the god of technology. Postman believes that technology is causing students to have a more individualized learning experience, which completely contradicts “...the value and necessity of group cohesion", a necessary component of education (Postman 45). The negative connotation Postman gives to technology, as well as economic utility and multiculturalism, reflects on his opinions on not only modern education, but today’s society as a whole: a negative, condescending view, which he seldom considers changing. 

Postman’s relatively outdated book, in my opinion, undoubtedly provides some relevant points that still reign true today. For example, the god of Economic Utility absolutely still applies today, as I can say that I am personally affected by it myself and am completely encompassed by it’s misguided use. Moving past this fact, I think looking at the facts is necessary to truly understand the effects of this book: being published in the 80’s, this book clearly did not have a massive impact on educational systems as technology, economic gain, and multiculturalist pushes still exist profusely in school. Taking this into consideration, it is clear that although Postman addresses some facts that are accurate and need to be changed in order to move forward in education as a society, the antiquation of this book has caused it to be “just another one”, unable to have the massive effect it should have on school today. If this book was published today, on the other hand, I think it could definitely have a larger impact and higher advantage than the one it has right now being of little to no importance to most students, teachers, and other workers in the educational field. Postman’s The End to Education surely brings some good thoughts to the table, but is unable to be acted upon as, to put it blatantly, is an unwanted series of words to a multitude of uninterested readers looking for something modern and fresh to dig into. 

Goodbye, Privacy

Jake Nusynowitz

AP Language 

Ms. Howard

22 September 2013

Goodbye, Privacy

     After the successful terrorist attack on the Empire State Building that killed a devastating 2,000 civilians in 2020, the TSA is cracking down on airport security even more than in 2001. Say goodbye to what was once thought as an “inconvenience”, and hello to three hour security procedures for every traveler consisting of: a full-body inspection, X-Ray procedures, extreme restrictions on what is allowed in-flight such as no electronics of any sort in carry-on bags, and trained eyes watching for any possible suspicious behavior at all times. Flying is no longer a pleasant experience, causing many to turn to travel by car or train. The skies have been closed down, restricting all AirCar travel until the United States’ security is ensured, causing traffic from Highway 1 in California, rolling up and down the West Coast, to Route 1 in Florida, moving north to New Brunswick, Canada. The TSA has no comment on this, except that it is a “necessary precaution to further ensure the safety of the American people”, said at a press conference days after the horrifying attack. Riots by the American people are forming, demanding their “basic rights to privacy and confidentiality as explained in The Fourth Amendment”. The eruption of this debate is causing a separation of citizens, much similar to the events leading up to the Revolutionary War. Will our country’s lack of compliance to one’s basic rights lead to a full-fledged war? Will the growing lack of privacy cause commercial air travel to go out of business? As air travel numbers dwindle, will what many believe is necessary to resort back to (and what seems as prehistoric) known as ground travel become inevitable? 

  Airports have completely re-envisioned the idea of efficiency through travel, getting one across the country in less than 5 hours. But many people, including government-appointed, believe that one particular and hated procedure all airport customers go through, known as the security checkpoint, is unnecessary and a breach on ones basic rights to privacy: ‘"Every inch of our person has become fair game for government thugs posing as 'security' as we travel around the country," says the online petition supporting Sen. Paul's bill to eliminate the agency.’ (Kenny). As each year comes and goes, it feels as if airport security gets increasingly intrusive. Honestly, it’s hard to imagine a time when airport security wasn’t intrusive. It’s easy to believe that in 2020, airport security will be almost impossible to handle. And, as much as Americans would like to believe the contrary, another terrorist attack similar to the devastating attacks on September 11 is inevitable. 

Some, patriotic suck-ups, disagree with the fact that TSA is violating one’s personal rights, believing that the fourth amendment doesn’t relate to anything the TSA does. "[T]he right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” (Kenny).

It seems that our only real solution is to completely eliminate the TSA entirely, and let competing commercial airlines deal with security individually. This way, people can decide the amount of protection they want in the air. Even taking this idea into consideration, it is clear that the government will never make this a reality, putting our personal privacy at stake. The harsh truth is that, the government would never lower the amount of security the TSA brings, as the scare of terrorism increases each and every day. Even after $56 billion federal investment over ten years, flying is still not as safe as it was before the September 11 attacks. As new weaponry is invented, and sneakier methods of violence become available, the risk cannot be taken lightly. But even with that in mind, is there no trust in the American people?

The truth in all of this is that, even in the advanced year of 2013, America is still not used to the physical privacy that is violated through TSA. In a world with Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, it is so simple to find everything out about a person in a matter of minutes. The idea of “privacy” no longer exists in that social way in which it used to. The idea of privacy socially and technologically is not a “confidential” issue today, but rather physical privacy has become a fragile topic that today’s Americans have trouble coping with. The idea of going through a machine that, essentially, takes a picture of your naked body, shakes America.

The unchangeable truth lies with Americans. Although we ask ourselves, as if we have a choice, “will we continue to let airports violate us?” when our opinions really don’t matter. Our fighting, protesting, and demands won’t change the fact that privacy must be violated for the “safety” of “our country” . So we must hold on to the privacy we still have today, because, as the years go by, our privacy will dwindle. America, say goodbye to privacy, because it’s not coming back. 

Works Cited

Kenny, Jack. "Ten Years of TSA: Ten Years after TSA's Inception, a Congressional Report Found That It's Wasteful, Inefficient, and Doesn't Stop Terrorist Threats, Though It Has a Vast Bankroll and Intrusive Powers." The New American 28.12 (2012). Questia School. Web. 20 Sept. 2013.