Keystone Magazine The_Keystone-07 | Page 85

In Conversation With this age of the explosive growth of information, They can talk to anyone. educators should help students reconstruct their They can give a speech, ask thoughtful questions, perception and understanding of knowledge, their and make people laugh. Amherst is a diverse selves, and the world through thinking and reflec- intellectual community that is rich with speaking, tion. This is not just college education’s but also conversation, and debate opportunities and expe- Keystone education’s mission to accomplish. riences for students. Percy: Liberal arts education is needed today more In my view, these five goals represent the ultimate than any other period in history because while it goals of liberal arts education as represented by is easy to acquire knowledge, it requires learning Amherst College. The five goals look straightfor- to integrate knowledge. These are fundamental ward, but actually, all are very difficult to achieve. abilities in modern society. You cannot just turn to But I believe that we can prepare students for any information technology to make use of information, situation in four years of studying at Amherst. A to express yourself, and to blend into society. school needs to make the effort to create an enabling environment so students can progress and succeed · · · in all these aspects. As Ms. Sabrina Liu, Director of Marketing and Sabrina: These goals are very practical. They are Communications at Keystone Academy, said, “We crucial qualities and intellectual abilities for a know ourselves through others. What we share meaningful and successful life. Dr. Hu Shih spoke with others and the world, and their feedback to us, about the topic of intellectual preparedness at may serve as a mirror reflecting back on ourselves.” Purdue University, and he emphasized intellectual training, something that Thomas H. Huxley deemed This dialogue about Amherst College ended up being “the most sacred act of a man’s life.” By developing about more than the college itself or liberal arts and exercising intellectual habits in college, we education; it also presented reflective discussions on become well-equipped to find the truth of freedom the ideal educational model. We hope that dialogues in an intellectually confused and chaotic age. like this will build a bridge for communication between students, their parents, and American Percy: A kind of education from a liberal arts college, higher education institutions, and provide parents in my understanding, can help make one a com- and students with a more comprehensive and deeper plete person. Liberal arts education helps prepare a understanding of the higher education landscape in person for their future life rather than being just a the United States, to help them make well-informed tool or a means of making a living. Perhaps parents decisions when it comes to choosing institutions for or students that have this understanding are more higher education. suitable for liberal arts education. More importantly, we hope that every student Sabrina: I remember the Harvard Redbook discussed at Keystone gains the courage and confidence to general education, emphasizing that undergrad- become a scientifically and humanistically-in- uate education should shift its focus from the formed explorer capable of appreciating the acquisition of knowledge to the acquisition of truth and beauty in everyday occurrences. methods. This actually points to the core of liberal arts education. It is crucial to know not only what [Note]: All photos in this article other than the interview photos are to learn but also how to learn. In other words, in courtesy of Amherst College. The Keystone Magazine 81