Jia Tao

ENG 112-78
Connie Douglas
Rhetorical Analysis Paper
Sep. 4, 2014
Is public education failing or not failing?
In recent years, public education is failing or succeeding has been the topic of the day.
The reader found two articles from both sides. Tom DeWeese, the author of Public
Education is Failing, wrote the article in 2009. Mike Rose, the author of Public Education
is not Failing, wrote the article in 2009 as well. Both of the articles are from Detroit. Both
the writers hold their own opinion on whether the public education is failing or not. The
articles intended to awaken people in America that if public education has reflected its
function or not.
The author of the article of Public education is failing elaborated on how public
education failed from different aspects. The reader agrees that the education system is
excelling in the wrong categories ( DeWeese). According to DeWeese, the National Education
Association (NEA) focuses on higher pay, smaller classrooms, and more money for schools
rather than teaching. In this article, the author made some examples for different aspects to
support his idea. The language and sentence used is easy to understand and strongly held his
opinions. The author found out the main reason of public school failed because the NEA
focuses on wrong points. The government ignored the root of the problem, even though they
are still trying to figure out the problems. However, everyone got benefit except students

because students did not grasp basic knowledge at school. The worst is the NEA restructured
education toward the psychological to change students attitudes, values and beliefs.
Although, the government tried to reform the education system; they keep ignoring the real
problem. The strengths of the article are that the author has a clear mind, and the structure is
neat. The author did not mention any opposition. The reader does not think he has to because
the article is organized clearly with strong argument, and easy to understand.
The article Public education is not failing does not have as strong argument as the
other one. The author emphasized that people should think about the public education with
sight of the broader purpose and grand vision of the common, rather than testing, testing,
testing (Rose, public education is not failing, opposing viewpoints in context). He stressed
that public should clearly understand what is the goals, purpose, and the evaluating standard.
The language and sentences used is difficult to understand as an ordinary person without any
educational background. Testing is one of the ways to evaluate how students grasp the
knowledge. Another way to know if students can read, write, and do calculating without
calculator. The author did not address opposition as well. The reader does not think the author
has to. Otherwise, the article will be more difficult to understand.
The author with the negative opinion is the most effective in fulfilling his intention. This
author used strong argument and appropriate examples to state his thesis with clear
organization. However, the other author most successfully appeals to his audience, because
his views are worth to be pondered. Both articles mentioned the relationship between the
education and institutions, even the government. It is not difficult to find that there is a close
relationship between education and politics.

Works Cited
DeWeese, Tom. "Public Education Is Failing." Education. Ed. David Haugen and Susan
Musser. Detroit:

Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from

"American Education Fails Because It Isn't Education." NewsWithViews.com. 2007.

Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 4 Sept. 2014.
Rose, Mike. "Public Education Is Not Failing." Education. Ed. David Haugen and Susan
Musser. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Grand
Visions and Possible Lives." Education Week 11 Oct. 2006. Opposing Viewpoints in
Context. Web. 4 Sept. 2014.