"A Call to Arms: Can Americans Save Higher Education from Itself?" In a stark warning, a prominent voice in education is urging Americans to take a page from ancient Greek history and defend their higher education system against what they see as an impending invasion of mediocrity. By drawing parallels between the epic Battle of Thermopylae, where a small band of Spartans valiantly held off the massive Persian army, the author is imploring educators, policymakers, and students to join forces and fight for the preservation of what is best in American higher education. But what exactly is under threat, and what can be done to safeguard the quality of learning and academic rigor that has long defined the American university experience? This thought-provoking commentary challenges readers to consider the future of higher education and the role they can play in shaping it.
Americans who want to preserve what’s good in our higher education system must think like the Spartans defending Greece against the invading Persians.