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SHOULD AMERICAN EDUCATION FOLLOW A CIVIC PARADIGM OR VOCATIONAL PARADIGM APPROACH?

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SHOULD AMERICAN EDUCATION FOLLOW A CIVIC PARADIGM OR VOCATIONAL PARADIGM APPROACH?

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Danielle Allen advocates for a civic paradigm that supersedes the traditional vocational approach. She champions this approach as a powerful tool to combat economic and political injustice. By emphasizing the growth of a student’s knowledge, skills, and attitudes, this paradigm prepares students for active involvement in democracy. It fosters critical thinking, political engagement, and cultural awareness, which can help address socioeconomic disparities. This approach equips students with the liberal arts skills necessary for participatory readiness, ultimately aiming to empower future generations.

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1. Civic Paradigm: a teaching approach that emphasizes critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and social responsibility to prepare students to be active in a democratic society

2. Participatory Readiness: an individual’s ability to engage in democratic processes to actively participate in civic and political life. This readiness is about having the necessary knowledge and skills and the right attitudes and values that promote active citizenship and social responsibility.

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"Piketty agrees that the wage premium on skill can explain only part of growing U.S. income inequality: political forces shape distributive outcomes, and there are limits to how much the advantages of education can be moderated through the dissemination of technological skills" (Allen).

"As Acemoğlu and Robinson argue, the expansion of political participation drove egalitarian economic reforms in Britain in the nineteenth century and the United States in the early twentieth. We are currently seeing a resurgence of participation on both the right and left. These movements, dubbed populist by many commentators, are putting issues of distributive justice on the agenda once again" (Allen).

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Danielle Allen takes issue with the widespread focus on STEM subjects in education, which is usually driven by the notion that these subjects are associated with success in modern society. The vocational paradigm calls for the proper alignment between educational requirements and job demands to promote economic equality. Therefore, many academic institutions prioritize vocational training, particularly in STEM courses, to prepare students for incorporation into capital-driven firms as a strategy to alleviate wealth disparities. However, this viewpoint misses the importance of civic engagement, ultimately leading to the failure to adequately prepare individuals for democratic participatory and the importance of making an educated decision regarding a political society.

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1. Vocational Paradigm: a teaching approach that emphasizes the connection between education and employment by preparing students for specific economic roles and occupations

2. Civic Engagement: taking up social, political, or civic issues and actively participating in public life to positively impact one’s community

3. Democratic Participation: people can influence legislation and other decisions that impact their daily lives when they engage in democratic decision-making processes

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"In Capital in the Twenty-First Century (2014), French economist Thomas Piketty writes, 'Historical experience suggests that the principal mechanism for convergence [of incomes and wealth] at the international as well as the domestic level is the diffusion of knowledge. In other words, the poor catch up with the rich to the extent that they achieve the same level of technological know-how, skill, and education.' Broad dissemination of skills is expected to drive down the wage premium on expertise and compress the income distribution" (Allen).

"Rewards would go, he said, to schools that develop more classes 'that focus on science, technology, engineering, and math—the skills today’s employers are looking for to fill jobs right now and in the future.' More recently, in his 2016 State of the Union address, the president announced a Computer Science for All initiative to make students 'job-ready on day one'" (Allen).

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Strive to promote social growth and empowerment while simultaneously reducing social inequality.

The civic paradigm underscores the importance of civic engagement. It encourages students to actively participate in their communities, acquire the necessary skills through mentoring relationships, and positively impact public life. This emphasis on civic engagement motivates students and makes them feel more connected to their communities.

While STEM courses are undeniably valuable, the civic paradigm stresses the importance of giving humanities their due respect in the classroom. This approach values the unique perspectives and insights that humanities bring, making students feel more valued and respected in their educational journey.

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The vocational paradigm stresses job training and higher earnings as a practical solution to income inequality. In contrast, the civic paradigm calls for reconsidering the unfair procedures that give rise to such disparities.

The vocational paradigm prioritizes idealist outcomes and often overlooks certain obstacles, while the civic paradigm is based on principles beyond personal profit.

The civic paradigm emphasizes fostering political consciousness, democratic engagement, and individual equality. At the same time, the vocational approach views education primarily as a tool for preparing students for the workforce.

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In her article “What Is Education For?”, Danielle Allen presents a debate between American education's civic and vocational paradigms. This argument map highlights the key points of her scholarly article, which aims to answer the question of which approach American school systems should adopt.

The civic paradigm is the main topic of discussion, and as Allen concludes, it is essential to diverge from the traditional vocational approach. Allen argues that education should prepare students for the workforce and provide them with the skills, information, and attitudes they need to participate actively in a democratic society. The goal is to enhance a student’s “participatory readiness,” or ability to engage in political conversations within a democratic society actively. According to Allen, students can use this approach to solve disparities in education, the economy, and politics. French economist Thomas Piketty supports this point of view. He believes that emphasizing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs and vocational training is the primary cause of income inequality. Piketty argues that we neglect the broader societal issues contributing to income inequality by focusing on vocational training.

The vocational paradigm, in contrast, takes a more practical and job-focused approach to education. Its main goal is to align educational standards with industry demands, especially in STEM fields. This approach considers that education can help reduce the wealth gap by providing students with the skills necessary to find well-paying jobs. Even while vocational education may increase wages and lessen economic inequality, Allen criticizes it for disregarding the importance of civic engagement and education’s more significant role in a democratic society.

The map also looks at the limitations and implications of both viewpoints. The civic paradigm promotes social growth, empowerment, and civic responsibility, while the vocational paradigm focuses on economic outcomes. On the other hand, the vocational viewpoint may overlook the fundamental causes of inequality, such as lack of access to quality education and systemic discrimination, and neglect to prepare students for democratic participation. In Allen’s view, education should foster the skills necessary for employment readiness and the fundamental abilities required for social equality and democratic engagement, thereby emphasizing the crucial role of education in addressing societal issues.

The map presents the civic paradigm as a more comprehensive and socially innovative educational approach. It seeks to address broader societal issues beyond the vocational paradigm’s purview by preparing students for civic and economic responsibilities. However, it also underscores the necessity of a balanced approach considering both paradigms for a well-rounded education.

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Allen, Danielle. “What Is Education For?” Boston Review, 26 Apr. 2016, www.bostonreview.net/forum/danielle-allen-what-is-education-for/.

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Upon reflection on my process for creating the argument map, I realized how beneficial it is to break down complex ideas into digestible parts. The first step was reading and annotating the article to understand the difference between civic and vocational education. Then, I organized my notes into a document and began differentiating the two points of view. I knew how to find evidence and key terms supporting each topic. This preparation helped me logically arrange my thoughts.

Using the website “Padlet” to create my argument map, I was able to bring a sense of clarity and organization to my process. I started with a clear title: “Should American Education Follow a Civic Paradigm or Vocational Paradigm Approach?” I then subdivided it into two groups, one for the civic paradigm and the other for the vocational paradigm. Each topic had its list of key terms and evidence, providing A clear structure to my argument. I then circled back to the beginning of the subdivision to explain the implications and limitations of the topic, reassured by the thoroughness of my analysis. I provided this information by analyzing the text I read and my annotated notes. Lastly, I began writing my summary to explain how to read the argument map effectively.

Throughout this process, I’ve experienced significant growth and development. I’ve learned how to use text analysis skills effectively and understand multiple perspectives of one topic at a time. This strategy has helped me understand the article and the other author’s perspectives and inspired me to apply these lessons in my future work. By breaking down complex ideas into manageable bits, I can write more thorough statements for academic writing and other types of communication if I follow this technique.