College students should have complete freedom to choose their own Essay

College students should puzzle complete freedom to choose their own courses and construct their own curriculums - Essay Example(Robertson & Smith, 1999, p.69) As the system functions today, college students are forced to conform to an educational model that was not designed in their interests. In opposite words, the existing educational system serves to indoctrinate young minds into obedient servants of the established social order. At the top of the social pyramid are the business and governmental elites, whose interests are reflected in the design of curricula. Hence, though it might lead to radical social upheavals, allowing greater freedom of choice within college campuses is the right way to go. allow us look at the rationale offered by those against freedom of choice in curricula and identify flaws in their arguments. A prominent advocate for less pedantic freedom was the sociologist Mortimer Adler, who stated that, left to their own choices, some students will downgrade t heir own education therefore, adults should control these crucial choices so that such downgrading does not occur. (Noddings, 2006, p.285) This caution is overstated, for college authorities can devise ways of ensuring that certain basic standards are met. Moreover, by what criteria are courses judged good and bad? In other words, the notion of downgrading is in truth subjective. As John Dewey noted in his lectures,a course in cooking, well planned and well executed, can induce critical thinking, increase heathenish literacy, and provide valuable skills - it can be a good course. In contrast, a course in algebra may discourage critical thinking, add nix to cultural literacy, and lead students to despair of acquiring useful skills - it can be a bad course. (Noddings, 2006, p.285)Considering that John Dewey was the most influential educationist of last century, his views have to be heeded to. The essence of Deweys argument is that by there is more merit than what is apparent in cou rses such as