Paper Abstract
A 3 page essay that discusses the views presented in two texts. George S. Counts and Ivan Ilich present very different visions of social reform via changes in the US educational system. Counts' book, while published in 1969, was originally copyrighted in 1932, and, therefore, addresses social issues and educational philosophy, such as the Progression theories of John Dewey, which were current at that time. Basically, Counts argues that it is the duty of the educational system to enable a socialist, utopian vision for America's future via indoctrination of the America's schoolchildren. Illich, writing in 1970, on the other hand, would reject the entire paradigm of schools, as they exist, and substitute informal learning "webs" or "networks," which allow each person to define and seek knowledge on an individual basis, free from the imposed labels of a class-structured society. Both writers make good points, but both arguments present problems. No additional sources cited.
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