Why the liberal arts are important: Learning to reflect

[theevilsharpie]

I hope I'm not one of the few that values education for the sake of learning and being well educated rather than to just get a job.

...

The end result of an education shouldn't be a job or a diploma. People who approached learning this way were never really educated in the first place

With the possible exception of the rich and/or the immature, most people paying five to six figures to attend college are doing so under the assumption that they're investing in their careers.

I don't disagree with you that education provides benefits beyond job training, but there are much cheaper ways of attaining that education than going to college.

 

[pelov]

With the possible exception of the rich and/or the immature, most people paying five to six figures to attend college are doing so under the assumption that they're investing in their careers.

I don't disagree with you that education provides benefits beyond job training, but there are much cheaper ways of attaining that education than going to college.

That's exactly what I'm getting at though...

At which point does that sort of "education" really just a fancy way of stating "job training" or "apprenticeship"?

And education should never be about money. Obviously, if you're investing 40k a year in tuition you should expect a good return (read job), but that's not really an education, is it?

It's really weird. I think we're getting to a point where the best education a person can get is on their own terms in a library or sitting in front of a computer. The best "job training" is still offered at your local college or university.

*I hate this trend toward specialization* It's only produced boring people

 

[shortylickens]

They're not "your" tax dollars, degrees are paid for with debt anyway (not tax money), and saying that something is "very important", but worth $0 to you, is a bit odd, don't you think?

No, but thats because I understand how the world works.
You, apparently, do not.

 

[SphinxnihpS]

I don't disagree with you that education provides benefits beyond job training, but there are much cheaper ways of attaining that education than going to college.

Whoosh!

 

[Dumac]

A lot of engineering degrees require liberal arts courses anyway. I had to take a bunch.

They were easy A classes they were also worth more to my gpa, since they were 4 units while most engineering classes were 3

 

[marvdmartian]

While appreciation of the arts is important for everyone, most liberal arts degrees are practically useless. I don't need a degree in art in order to look at a painting and think it's beautiful. I don't need a degree in English literature to read poetry and enjoy it.

We have allowed the degradation of our schools to lead to the simplification of degrees in college. Children don't get the background they need in math and science, to allow them to take courses of study to become doctors or engineers, but we continue to preach to them that they need a college education to survive in the real world, so what's left to them?

Getting a B.A. in underwater basket weaving.

 

[Lummex]

Enjoyed the read, and agree that the humanities are very important for everyone to be educated in. And I don't mean just art and literature.

 

[jagec]

No, but thats because I understand how the world works.
You, apparently, do not.

Right, the world works by getting somebody ELSE to pay for things that are important.

Sadly, I understand this mindset all too well. It's common among the immature and selfish.

 

[SphinxnihpS]

No, but thats because I understand how the world works.
You, apparently, do not.

Yet didn't read the article or comment on it...






...oh and <3

 

[HamburgerBoy]

What makes me LOL about liberal arts somehow pushing critical thinking where highly mathematical majors do not is that as a biochemistry major (an admittedly soft science degree for an undergraduate) they will accept a number of philosophy electives from me ASIDE FROM critical thinking, inductive reasoning, symbolic logic, etc. Because somehow learning about ancient Greek philosophers will better equip me with critical thinking skills than learning how to actually apply the logical rigor that said philosophers developed.