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Sebastian Cabrera

Mrs. Klimas

English 10 Pre-AP, Period 4

22 February 2018

Columnist Analysis and Response #2

Citation:
Sowell, Thomas. “Education at a Crossroads” Jewish World Review, 6 February 2017,
______http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/sowell020417.php3.

Content:
Thomas Sowell provides an overview on the dilemma surrounding whether the U.S. Senate will
confirm or reject the nomination of Betsy DeVos to be head of the U.S. Department of
Education. Sowell urges the public to support Devos as she has been promoting programs, laws,
and policies that allow parents to choose which schools their children will attend, whether these
are charter schools, voucher schools or parochial schools. Devos wants to grant parents access to
what public schools lack, which is more affordable and more effective education. But those
heading the revolt against her nomination are the teachers’ unions and the education
establishment. The passing of such laws and policies will pose a severe threat to their members’
jobs. This decision to nominate Betsy DeVos simplifies to whether the government should focus
on providing better education for future generations or providing more jobs to the public.

Tone: Thomas Sowell utilizes an urgent tone to express how people must take action and
become more vocal in this political decision. He intends to advocate the public to show their
support in Betsy DeVos and a better future for education for all.

Context: Thomas Sowell provides most of the contextual information surrounding the
controversial political nomination. But it is helpful to know how some state/local policies decide
where children are allowed to attend to school. In certain school districts, children are forced to
attend a public school where there is a lack of access to charter schools, voucher schools, etc. In
lower income areas, these public schools tend to fail in educating even the basics of English and
math to students.

Appeals: Sowell’s persuasion primarily consists of logos. The use of logic, facts, and examples
shows how several public schools lack in affordability and graduation rates when compared to
the statistics following charter schools.

Strategies and Devices: Thomas Sowell uses a more long and descriptive syntax to effectively
go in depth about the issues involving the restriction of parents’ choice of education. For
example, this selection of syntax leaves out no details as Sowell explains how education in low
income areas can be much more reliable if students weren’t forced to only attend public schools.
To Sowell, DeVos is an opportunity “that may not come again in this generation” (Paragraph 2).
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The use of a hyperbole emphasizes the importance of allowing DeVos to be nominated and not
letting the chance of a better future for education to disappear.

Organization: The article follows a comparing and contrasting format. Showcasing the several
differences between public education and charter education reveals the several benefits of charter
education.

Diction/Word Choice: Sowell’s diction follows a more educated diction. Words such as,
“belatedly,” “race relations,” and “education bureaucrats” allow for a more direct and precise
approach towards the political issue. It allows little room for humor and gets straight to the
point. Sowell wastes no words in his criticisms nor his appraisals.

Personal Response: Thomas Sowell’s piece opens on a relatable note as he briefly describes a
decision that will affect “the futures of millions of children in low-income communities, and in
the very troubled area of race relation in America” (Paragraph 1). Sowell’s method of closing
his article focuses more on a call to action as he comments on a “historic opportunity” that may
never come again. The two methods are similar as they both cause a questioning of one’s
possible involvement in such a political issue. The central idea of this article was that the
expansion of education can be made possible through Betsy DeVos as she continues to promote
freedom of choice within the education system. I agree with the author’s claim because the
passing of such policies will allow for more affordable and reliable education for students like
me and future generations. As a decision must come soon, Sowell speaks to an audience which
consists of those still undecided in whether to confirm or reject Betsy DeVos, hoping to convince
them to go pro-Betsy. Without a doubt, Sowell effectively provides his opinion on such a
controversial political decision.