Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to argue that the state of the education system in Canadian Universities undermines the core values of democracy. Contemporary education institutions are dominated by what Horkheimer would call ‘subjective’ or ‘formalized’ reason. The domination by subjective reason undermines the two core values, freedom and autonomy, that Canadian society theoretically holds by creating immature and money-hungry students, rather than mature and free individuals. This will be shown by first turning to Max Horkheimer’s conceptions of subjective and objective reason, in order to establish a basis by which the values of education can be judged. The current education system will then be shown as operating as something other than a way to further learning, and rather as a tool of assimilation and business. The business model of education, described by Franklin Becher, is the idea that an institution views students solely as the monetary value they provide in the form of tuition and that students view degrees solely as the wages of a potential career. The adaptation model described by Theodore Adorno and Hellmut Becker, is the idea that education works to assimilate students into the culture in which they live. These two systems are discussed, to show how the core values of democracy are undermined and replaced with capitalistic values. Finally, an analysis of the repercussions faced by both the individual and society will ensue, in order to highlight the residual effects of this system. In closing, suggestions will be made to possibly fix the residual problems left over from using subjective reason to determine the goals of education.