Hello To All My fellow internet friends:
Today, was my first day of classes at Robert Morris University in Moon Township, PA. I went to the community college in Pittsburgh last semester and decided to continue my college journey this semester. I am taking three classes this semester. I am taking Principles in Macroeconomics and have no idea how this course is going to be, but its a requirement so I must take it. I am taking The Developing World which is a history course, and after attending the first class seems like it will be quite interesting. Tomorrow I will attend my first class of Comparative Contemporary Political Systems. This sounds like it could be an interesting course as well. I will be continuing with my sociology degree or as this college calls it Social Science degree. Since I have both a burning passion for politics and just absolutely love politics I have decided that my concentration is going to be in government.
I am very much looking forward to attending Robert Morris University this semester. I hope to find a job with more hours soon, also. So, I will probably not be posting quite as often as I have been lately.
Showing posts with label sociology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sociology. Show all posts
Reflections On Chapter Three of Democracy in America
During one of my sociology classes in college, I studied Democracy in America by Alexis De Tocqueville. I recently reviewed the writings of Democracy in America again,and I found these two paragraphs quite interesting.
"It is not only the fortunes of men that are equal in America; even their acquirements partake in some degree of the same uniformity. I do not believe that there is a country in the world where, . in proportion to the population, there are so few ignorant and at the same time so few learned individuals. Primary instruction is within the reach of everybody; superior instruction is scarcely to be obtained by any. This is not surprising; it is, in fact, the necessary consequence of what I have advanced above. Almost all the Americans are in easy circumstances and can therefore obtain the first elements of human knowledge."
"In America there are but few wealthy persons; nearly all Americans have to take a profession. Now, every profession requires an apprenticeship. The Americans can devote to general education only the early years of life. At fifteen they enter upon their calling, and thus their education generally ends at the age when ours begins. If it is continued beyond that point, it aims only towards a particular specialized and profitable purpose; one studies science as one takes up a business; and one takes up only those applications whose immediate practicality is recognized."
I believe that there are quite a few similarities in these two paragraphs between America in the 19th Century and America of today. Do you believe that in present day every person has the opportunity to achieve success as it is mentioned above? It seems to me that today education is highly accessible to children in both primary and high schools, but is difficult to attain a college degree because of the increase of costs of attending college. De Toqueville states that in the 1800's primary instruction is within reach of everyone, but yet there were so few learned individuals. Are todays college financial burdens similar to the educational constraints of De Tocqueville's America? Do you see any other similarities between De Tocqueville's America and America today?
"It is not only the fortunes of men that are equal in America; even their acquirements partake in some degree of the same uniformity. I do not believe that there is a country in the world where, . in proportion to the population, there are so few ignorant and at the same time so few learned individuals. Primary instruction is within the reach of everybody; superior instruction is scarcely to be obtained by any. This is not surprising; it is, in fact, the necessary consequence of what I have advanced above. Almost all the Americans are in easy circumstances and can therefore obtain the first elements of human knowledge."
"In America there are but few wealthy persons; nearly all Americans have to take a profession. Now, every profession requires an apprenticeship. The Americans can devote to general education only the early years of life. At fifteen they enter upon their calling, and thus their education generally ends at the age when ours begins. If it is continued beyond that point, it aims only towards a particular specialized and profitable purpose; one studies science as one takes up a business; and one takes up only those applications whose immediate practicality is recognized."
I believe that there are quite a few similarities in these two paragraphs between America in the 19th Century and America of today. Do you believe that in present day every person has the opportunity to achieve success as it is mentioned above? It seems to me that today education is highly accessible to children in both primary and high schools, but is difficult to attain a college degree because of the increase of costs of attending college. De Toqueville states that in the 1800's primary instruction is within reach of everyone, but yet there were so few learned individuals. Are todays college financial burdens similar to the educational constraints of De Tocqueville's America? Do you see any other similarities between De Tocqueville's America and America today?
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