[Rhodes22-list] Academics - another view

[Robert Skinner]

Brad Haslett wrote:
> Finally, they're creating a department just
> for "my people".  It may be time
> to go back to school!  Brad
> 
> February 12, 2008 A Department Of Hillbilly Studies?

-----------------------------------------------------

Brad,

I must agree that many of the supposedly college level 
courses have less real value than "Underwater 
Basketweaving," the often-referenced and putatively 
worthless college course during my teen years at home.  
However, there is another explanation that I have 
encountered when teaching at a college level.

College administrators want to attract students who 
have parents with money (or the ability to borrow 
money) and a limited desire to stretch their minds.

For example, the University of Maine is considering 
reducing its Physics program (and those who teach 
physics) for economic reasons - students are more 
interested in the softer subjects, and the curricula
follow the students, rather than the other way 
around.

In an economic atmosphere where R&D is severely 
curtailed, the students know that the big bucks lie 
in management, which is not exactly a hotbed of 
theoretical physics, higher math, or other hard 
science.

The dumbing down of college curricula may not be 
entirely the result of whatever one might construe
as "liberalism."  It may be a matter of where the 
bucks are, and who is willing to dilute education in
pursuit of the student dollar.

/Robert