Antollini's View Of Education example essay topic

In the novel Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield is a troubled youth. He is a lonely and lost teen in search of meaning and purpose. Holden finds guidance in his former teacher, Mr. Antollini. "I'm not trying to tell you, that only educated and scholarly men are able to contribute something valuable to the world... And-most important- nine times out of ten they have more humility than the unscholarly thinker". Mr. Antollini's statement implies that you need a balance of both book education and street education.

Book education is classroom study, five days a week, in a regular school environment. Street education is real life, the everyday experiences that make you who you are. You need a balance of both schools of education in order to succeed in life, and that is what Mr. Antollini is attempting to get across to Holden. Mr. Antollini's view on education is perfect. Everything cannot always be taught and learned from reading; there are some things you have to do and experience in order to learn and understand them. A book cannot teach someone how to live their life.

Through his guidance Mr. Antollini is attempting to be Holden's Catcher in the Rye. He is trying to save Holden and point him down the right path in life. He states, .".. once you have a fair view of where you want to go, your first move will be to apply yourself in school". Mr. Antollini is attempting to help Holden achieve success; he knows Holden has street smarts to do well in life, now he just needs the book smarts. Holden is a master at deception and has the whit to negotiate almost any situation, all he needs is the will power to study and apply himself in school.

In his speech on education Mr. Antollini states, "Just as someday if you have something to offer, someone will learn something from you. It's a beautiful reciprocal arrangement. It's history. It's poetry". Mr. Antollini is giving Holden his view on education and a possible career choice for him, that of an educator. Holden could help others or be their "catcher" through his writings.

Like Mr. Antollini states, "Many, many men have been troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now", there are people, like Holden, that need help and guidance. Mr. Antollini says that education is history; meaning that there is always someone who needs to be taught and there is always a teacher, even if it is a book. He also says that education is poetry; meaning that education is beautiful. There is beauty in teaching, learning, and succeeding, joy for the teacher as well as the student. In concluding his speech Mr. Antollini says", Something else an academic education will do for you.

If you go along with it any considerable distance, it " ll begin to give you an idea about what size mind you have". He is saying that if get enough education, you will learn what you can and cannot comprehend and retain. You will better understand place in society and how far you can go in life. Mr. Antollini's view of education is perfect.

His remarks about a balance in academic and street education are brilliant. His outlook on the beauty and timelessness of education is superb. Mr. Antollini's conclusion with the capacity of our learning and comprehension is truthful and remarkable. His view on education is quite similar to mine.

I can relate to Holden his disillusionment, and the effect of Mr. Antollini's speech. At this point in my life, like Holden, I am searching for my place in life. I have no idea what college I want to attend, what I want to major in, or what career I want to pursue; and I like Holden am running out of time, deadlines are closing in, applications must be filled out, tests must be taken, and decisions must be made soon. Mr. Antollini's speech adds clarity to the world or disillusionment.