[Rhodes22-list] Academics - another view - wider

[Herb Parsons]

Unfortunately, it won't. At least, not without the intervention of other 
factors. Colleges, in spite of the high regard in which they hold 
themselves, are still members of the capitalist system and operate as 
such. As long as there are cash paying "customers" that want a degree in 
advanced basket-weaving, they will offer the appropriate courses.

Robert Skinner wrote:
> Herb Parsons wrote:
>   
>
> There is a also constant and shifting balance 
> between the hard sciences and the "softer" or 
> "liberal education" lines of study.  After the 
> (necesary) move toward the hard sciences in 
> support of the war effort in the '40s and '50s, 
> there was a counter trend toward the 
> "humanities".  Even Harvard had "General 
> Education" and other distributive courses in 
> the early '60s designed to prevent 
> overspecialization in a specific area.
>
> I think it is time for the pendulum to swing 
> the other way.
>
>   
>> In "the old days", you basically had two types of people going to
>> college - those that had wealthy parents, and those that worked they way
>> through on their own. Obviously, there would be a percentage of those in
>> the former group that weren't particularly motivated to do what needed
>> to be done. It wasn't their money, so it didn't matter.
>>
>> On the other hand, the poor slob that ate peanut butter sandwiches 6
>> days a week, and "splurged" on Spam once a week, so he could work his
>> way through school, understood the cost, and was more likely to do what
>> needed to be done.
>>
>> As we made the financial burden easier (or in some cases, non-existant),
>> we added to the pool of those that were going on someone else's dime.
>>
>> And this is a capitalistic society. The colleges are going to adjust for
>> that shift, and make courses easier.
>>
>> In other words, as PI (Politically INcorrect) as it may sound, there's
>> something to be said for elitism.
>>
>> And, as we further dilute what it means to have a "college education",
>> it will become of lesser and lesser value.
>>     
>
> As a guy who drove a tow truck from midnight to 7:00 AM 
> so I could go to college, I have some gripes with those 
> who have it handed to them.  Free state colleges have not, 
> in the grand scheme of things, put us ahead in the world 
> economy.  But it is our fault as taxpayers -- we did not 
> demand that colleges teach and students learn productive 
> skills.
>
> But it is not entirely the fault of those who got an 
> education "on the cheap".  Many worked at MacDonalds to 
> get thru college, and are still there because their degree 
> isn't worth the paper it is printed on - from American 
> Business's point of view.
>
> Expectations of a good return on the effort required to 
> get any sort of degree have been dashed as we ship jobs 
> off shore, and eliminate the requirement for manual and 
> intellectual skills by automating jobs.  
>
> ---------------
>
> Lest you think I am a Luddite, I personally welcomed the 
> fruits of automation, since I made my career in IT.  I was 
> lucky to get into the field, and paid taxes on my income 
> to support those I put out of work with my craft.  It 
> seemed fair to me then, and still does.  If that makes me 
> a "liberal", so be it.  
>
> I regard it as sharing my good fortune.  I have paid far 
> more into Social Security than I ever will see come out of 
> it to me.  I am comfortable with that.
>
> What really gets me going is when my government wastes what 
> I have put into it on unproductive foolishness.
>
> /Robert
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>
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>   

-- 
Herb Parsons
S/V O'Jure - O'Day 25
S/V Reve de Pappa - Coronado 35