Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Summary - Essay Example In Rudolph’s article, the history of American universities is presented. From the earliest days, the struggle of those who sought a better way for American students is shared with the reader. Some men begged books to start new schools, some man fought danger in the wilderness to found a new college that would present education to the people. The early days were a real challenge. As America grew, so did its universities. Many schools were inspired by a religious awakening that occurred in America's early days. Each denomination had its own school and many of these survive to this day. At their best, Rudolph argues, these schools represented American democracy and helped the idea of America flourish. Kerr's article presents a more contemporary view of universities and shows how they are adapting to try to survive in today's changing marketplace. Universities play a somewhat different role than they did in the period discussed by Rudolph. Now they are intended more to train peopl e for employment and conduct important research that can save lives and change the way we think about our place in the world. But funding is scarce. Research universities are the fountainhead of research and development and yet they lack the federal funds to continue to produce at an effective level. Kerr wonders about the future of such universities.