What value is in liberal arts education?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

We don't value narrow minds, so why would we value narrow education?

You haven't been in the South much lately, have you?

[FBM]

We don't value narrow minds, so why would we value narrow education?

You haven't been in the South much lately, have you?

I took a shower after I left. Washed the redneck off me.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

We don't value narrow minds, so why would we value narrow education?

You haven't been in the South much lately, have you?

I took a shower after I left. Washed the redneck off me.

Ya kin take tha boy outta tha dirt, but not the dirt outta tha boy.

[Audley Strange]

It's quite simple, University, which used to be a place for young men and women to broaden their mind and opportunities is increasingly becoming a shop where one purchases a specific set of ideas in order to wear a label that allows you specific employment.

It's all about the VFM, FBM and therefore many see anything that is not immediately beneficial to future careers as a waste of time and money. I disagree, but the market has spoken. As for "soft" degrees many of them are in place because fools are easily parted from their money, which is why we probably have more psychologists and sociologists than mental patients or politicians. In many cases it's about buying a label, not education.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

It's quite simple, University, which used to be a place for young men and women to broaden their mind and opportunities is increasingly becoming a shop where one purchases a specific set of ideas in order to wear a label that allows you specific employment.

It's all about the VFM, FBM and therefore many see anything that is not immediately beneficial to future careers as a waste of time and money. I disagree, but the market has spoken. As for "soft" degrees many of them are in place because fools are easily parted from their money, which is why we probably have more psychologists and sociologists than mental patients or politicians. In many cases it's about buying a label, not education.

At Purdue a diversity of education was required to graduate. You could have your core done and not get a diploma if your electives we're completed as well. YMMV, of course.

[Audley Strange]

"Was" yeah? I'm not sure how each single university operates, but on the whole the diversity is less and less because people who are buying an education are less likely to want to pay for that which they see as superfluous. Many people are not at university to get an education, they're there to get the adult playtime experience and an addition to their C.V.

[FBM]

You are dead on, Audley. But, I think, verging on the naturalistic fallacy. The fact that that's the way many people are thinking doesn't mean that it's good.

In my experience, community colleges will give you a technical degree without requiring much, if any, language or history education. But if you want to graduate Harvard, you'd better have your broad-minded shit together.

[PsychoSerenity]

It's quite simple, University, which used to be a place for young men and women to broaden their mind and opportunities is increasingly becoming a shop where one purchases a specific set of ideas in order to wear a label that allows you specific employment.

It's all about the VFM, FBM and therefore many see anything that is not immediately beneficial to future careers as a waste of time and money. I disagree, but the market has spoken. As for "soft" degrees many of them are in place because fools are easily parted from their money, which is why we probably have more psychologists and sociologists than mental patients or politicians. In many cases it's about buying a label, not education.

That's the problem - the market has spoken - and the market is self-interested and short-sighted. It will rip people off and force others to do whatever they must to get by, and fail to see all value that isn't intimidate and monetary.

[FBM]

The phrase "intangible asset" is lost on such people. The fallacious equation that greater wealth = greater wellbeing dominates current worldviews. I refuse to follow that herd.

[Tyrannical]

I thought I'd add that for science / engineering students, about a third of their classes are liberal arts. And for my required art history class, I took prehistoric-medieval art, because I knew it would all be unknown author.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

You can do college poorly, the choice is yours. I had a desire to know more about the places I'd been, and the people I'd met, and Uni gave me the opportunity to do that.

[Tyrannical]

You can do college poorly, the choice is yours. I had a desire to know more about the places I'd been, and the people I'd met, and Uni gave me the opportunity to do that.

Mmmh, I signed up for western civ II because I so enjoyed the teacher and material for the first course. Even though mu course requirements were already filled. I took classical greek history too because I wanted to, even though it was another three wasted credits. Teacher was a dick too.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

You can do college poorly, the choice is yours. I had a desire to know more about the places I'd been, and the people I'd met, and Uni gave me the opportunity to do that.

Mmmh, I signed up for western civ II because I so enjoyed the teacher and material for the first course. Even though mu course requirements were already filled. I took classical greek history too because I wanted to, even though it was another three wasted credits. Teacher was a dick too.

If I had been referring to you specifically I would have quoted you.

[FBM]

I grew up poor. Very poor. I went to college on gummit loans, which I have subsequently paid back in full. Despite my early poverty, I didn't go to college just to get a well-paying job; I went there to learn about things I was interested in. The job(s) and related income were afterthoughts. I'd rather be poor and broadly aware than financially comfortable and intellectually narrow. It turns out that that dichotomy is false, to my favor. In my experience, most of the best scientists are/were also deeply involved in philosophy. Think Carl Sagan. The only shortcoming I could find with Richard Feynman (among my greatest heroes) was his disdain for the deeper philosophical implications of the work he did.

[hadespussercats]

Probably almost as much of a struggle as living without mezzo-soprano costume designer craftspeople, who write creative nonfiction.

None of my skills are useful. None.

They are to you.

En Route!!!!

And yes, you're right. Not so much to the pocketbook, but ah well.