For us to clarify the meaning of liberal arts education, let’s start with a definition of this type of education. The modern liberal education is a type of higher education which helps students develop a sense of social responsibility, analytical skills, critical thinking, communication abilities, problem-solving skills, and ability to apply knowledge and received skills in real-world settings; it also teaches to effectively participate as a citizen in a free society. Today, a liberal arts education usually includes a general curriculum that provides broad learning in multiple disciplines along with more in-depth study in a major as well as student-oriented interactive teaching methods involving students in the analytical discussions both in classroom and beyond it.
Briefly stated, the liberal arts education is seen as a fundamental part of the democratization process and a way to support active citizenship. Teachers use this type of education, because they recognize the limitations of the old teaching methods, especially due to the increased competition in the light of new technologies. Teachers also understand that the current models of thinking and demands of today’s market are not compatible with the old rigid educational structure of the sample. The basic principle of liberal arts education is personal development rather than preparing students for a particular activity. This is different from other types of education where students develop professional skills for a specific job and and get help with their essays at essayswriters.com. Education in liberal arts can give a man a lot of opportunities and choices concerning what kind of job he/she chooses for the future.
While having a look at the Greek roots of this type of education, it is easy to notice that its main purpose was the education of citizens who would be able to become active participants in a democratic society. Nowadays, education has to go further preparing students for full activity in a dynamic social environment. Supporters of liberal arts education honestly believe that love to learning, critical thinking, and self-expression apply to life more than the depth of knowledge in one subject. These qualities are especially important, because they allow graduates to adapt the ever-changing socio-economic life conditions and help them to expand knowledge. Liberal arts education serves democracy best, because it prepares students for all the life difficulties which people can be faced with: questions about a world and their own values as well as about difficult choices students must make as conscious citizens. Effective problem solving needs strong analytical and creative processes. Students definitely benefit from being in small, interactive classes with highly qualified teachers who help them to distinguish and understand what they read, see, and hear. Learning and experiencing different points of view increase their ability to communicate with the diverse society we live in.
In his article “On the Purpose of a Liberal Arts Education”, Robert Harris distinguishes several advantages of liberal arts education. First, liberal arts education can help a student to become a broad thinker. Second, this type of education encourages students to develop their leadership characters. Finally, it shows the solitude of the Christian liberal arts education and allows students to find appropriate opinions for different topics. As Harris wrote, “Once you develop good thinking habits, you will be able to perform better in any job, but more importantly, the happier life will be” (Harris). Liberal arts education gives students the possibility to be an individual, think on their own, and generate creative independent thoughts. As Harris says, when you develop good thinking habits, you will perform better in any job, and your life will be happier too (Harris). The scientist states that liberal arts education helps to build up a satisfying and comfortable life, because graduates develop some intellectual capacities that will help to solve different problems in life, respect the rights of others in a diverse society, understand the issues of morality and ethics, and enjoy the beauty of life in all its aspects. Liberal arts education is definitely a practical education.
The main feature of liberal arts education is the right choice. A student may use this right in two ways: first, the plan is flexible, and a student has a degree of freedom to select courses that he / she wants to study; second, a student has the opportunity to choose specialization. The fact that students play an important role in making their own training programs is based on the principle of educational process democratization. This choice means that there is no universal way to get high education because people are different, and every student has his own way of life, as well as different learning abilities and needs. However, another very important aspect of liberal art education is deep understanding of consequences that follow these choices.
In conclusion, it should be said that liberal arts education provides a strong basement of knowledge in many subjects. The students have a possibility to distinguish the strengths as well as the limitations of every subject. This right allows them to see the connections between different fields of study, learn them, and create new thoughts and theories. With these new ideas and new methods of problem solving, society will move to a new positive direction making people more productive. While it is true that the real information about each subject is very important for students that benefit them in their life and careers.
