Topic > Debate on Education: Beyond Professional and Academic Paths

Attaining education is essential to achieve because it brings satisfaction to our lives. From the articles I read, the theme of the debate between anti-intellectualism and professional training emerged. The first article titled My Struggles with Anti-Intellectualism was written by Paul Stoller. He was a professor of anthropology courses and had written 14 books of different genres such as novels, ethnographies and memoirs. On the other hand, the other article titled What's Wrong with Vocational School?, was written by Charles Murray dated January 17, 2007 in the Wall Street Journal. He was an American political scientist and the first to call attention to the publication in the year 1984. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayThe first article's point of view shows the essential elements of achieving higher education in order to support anti-intellectualism. However, the second article's point of view holds that the achievement has nothing to do between a bachelor's degree and a professional course. It was said that trade school was a stepping stone for people to achieve their goal and mission in life. It has been said that skills really matter and not between higher and vocational education. Paul Stoller's claim in his article is that it is significant to fight the struggles against anti-intellectualism regarding the things we can do through education. The problem here is that we believe that obtaining a higher education is the solution to succeeding in life. Therefore, we should avoid this thought and continue to strive for self-improvement. As the author states: “This is why it is important in the present to combat the anti-intellectualism of the public sphere and support enlightened higher education, a space where mentors, to borrow from one of my readers, do not teach students what to think but show them how to think, a skill that prepares them for a productive life in the world, a skill that moves all of us forward” (Stoller 5). In this statement, the author wants to illuminate the public's views on how anti-intellectualism can be fought. What is important here is that we believe in ourselves and what we can do to achieve our goal. The main point of Charle Murray's argument in the article was to understand that the profession is not a low level of education. He wants to convince his audience and readers that there is nothing wrong with choosing a vocational course as a method of learning in college. As the author quoted from the article: “Most students find college life very fun and this alone will keep the four-year institution overcrowded for a long time. But, if understood correctly, college is suitable for a small minority of young adults, perhaps even for a minority of people who have an IQ high enough to be able to do college-level work” (Murray 2007). In this statement, the problem would be thinking and being degraded by the four-year institution and other organizations. Starting from this statement, the author wants to show the importance of a professional course that can still carry out university level work. however, Murray wants to raise his point that taking a professional course does not impede a person's learning once one has that perseverance needed to learn and achieve what one wants to be. To conclude, there is no difference between higher and vocational education for a particular person. The author of the article.