Don't get me started on the "everyone should go to college" mantra
Tom Send a noteboard - 31/05/2010 04:07:34 AM
I think it does a disservice to millions of students every year. College is a great way to expand your intellectual horizons. It's also a fantastic way to get exposed to other viewpoints. I think that, on balance, those are good things.
HOWEVER, we make it out to be obligatory, and it shouldn't be. It throws millions of people into debt when they could go to technical schools and get a practical education being, say, electricians, plumbers or auto mechanics. Here in New York, those people can make a LOT of money, and frankly, it makes more sense for a lot of people.
Instead, though, we pound into peoples' heads that they "have" to go to college. Like I said, if someone has the opportunity and inclination and doesn't mind the cost (one way or another), great. However, pressuring people who don't have either the opportunity or inclination to go is a terrible thing to do.
Once people get there, they have these silly ideas about the utility of totally worthless degrees in the humanities. [Anything] Studies is a great way to identify a worthless degree (unless you want to teach or know a specialized use for your degree, like working at a particular museum, etc.).
HOWEVER, we make it out to be obligatory, and it shouldn't be. It throws millions of people into debt when they could go to technical schools and get a practical education being, say, electricians, plumbers or auto mechanics. Here in New York, those people can make a LOT of money, and frankly, it makes more sense for a lot of people.
Instead, though, we pound into peoples' heads that they "have" to go to college. Like I said, if someone has the opportunity and inclination and doesn't mind the cost (one way or another), great. However, pressuring people who don't have either the opportunity or inclination to go is a terrible thing to do.
Once people get there, they have these silly ideas about the utility of totally worthless degrees in the humanities. [Anything] Studies is a great way to identify a worthless degree (unless you want to teach or know a specialized use for your degree, like working at a particular museum, etc.).
Political correctness is the pettiest form of casuistry.
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
One of the stupidest New York Times articles I've ever read
- 30/05/2010 03:17:03 PM
1264 Views
Added to which she sounds like a spoiled brat
- 30/05/2010 03:46:06 PM
952 Views
It's a column, not a real article... and it's more critical than you suggest.
- 30/05/2010 04:02:26 PM
727 Views
No it isn't.
- 30/05/2010 04:24:20 PM
760 Views
Re: No it isn't.
- 30/05/2010 04:56:42 PM
738 Views
Šertam aštakun
- 31/05/2010 04:14:28 AM
644 Views
Here's the saddest part ...
- 30/05/2010 06:10:48 PM
805 Views
Very bad life planning, and sadly, it's not an isolated case.
- 31/05/2010 04:01:46 AM
679 Views
Same. Humanities, while necessary, are something of a luxury given the numbers. *NM*
- 31/05/2010 07:35:25 AM
377 Views
Re: One of the stupidest New York Times articles I've ever read
- 30/05/2010 11:36:40 PM
713 Views
Don't get me started on the "everyone should go to college" mantra
- 31/05/2010 04:07:34 AM
691 Views
Re: Don't get me started on the "everyone should go to college" mantra
- 31/05/2010 04:23:54 AM
684 Views
I don't see the point in a humanities major if you aren't planning to get more than a bachelor's.
- 31/05/2010 07:41:40 AM
843 Views
I have a BA in English Literature.
- 31/05/2010 11:20:28 AM
765 Views
that's fair enough, since that's why you took it
- 31/05/2010 10:20:36 PM
722 Views
Heh.
- 01/06/2010 09:30:53 AM
681 Views
I think you mean "the government acts all brokenhearted about the amount of student debt."
*NM*
- 01/06/2010 09:38:38 AM
398 Views
*NM*
- 01/06/2010 09:38:38 AM
398 Views
That's kind of a weak reason, though.
- 31/05/2010 11:11:49 PM
670 Views
I'm pretty sure I didn't use that as my reason...
- 31/05/2010 11:15:32 PM
690 Views
That's true, although I don't know how many jobs that's useful for.
- 01/06/2010 01:20:29 AM
664 Views
That's fine. And I didn't go to Uni to get a job. I went for the education.
- 01/06/2010 09:29:28 AM
848 Views
I want to make clear that I, as a humanities major, really do like the humanities.
- 01/06/2010 09:37:39 AM
838 Views
- 01/06/2010 09:37:39 AM
838 Views
there is one more group that needs to take some of the blame
- 31/05/2010 01:58:39 AM
654 Views
Re: there is one more group that needs to take some of the blame
- 31/05/2010 02:39:14 AM
707 Views
Forget morale, the entire concept is immoral.
- 31/05/2010 02:52:08 AM
690 Views
Nonsense.
- 31/05/2010 03:01:32 AM
710 Views
that's not what you're talking about though.
- 31/05/2010 04:40:45 AM
723 Views
Korea has that policy and look what a nice place that is...er, wait a minute... *NM*
- 31/05/2010 06:08:14 AM
401 Views
So do many democratic countries across the world. And your point is what? *NM*
- 31/05/2010 06:36:14 AM
372 Views
We can put a man on the moon but looking at job number is too complicated?
- 31/05/2010 04:03:38 PM
802 Views
yeah, i probably would've rethought that physics degree if there were such a program in place
- 31/05/2010 03:27:14 AM
635 Views
Physics degrees have a variety of applications.
- 31/05/2010 07:02:57 PM
659 Views
Re: Physics degrees have a variety of applications.
- 31/05/2010 07:59:22 PM
886 Views
you are near Denver right?
- 02/06/2010 09:33:06 PM
673 Views
at the time i was in wisconsin, never lived in denver before
- 03/06/2010 02:01:23 AM
667 Views
ugh. stupid twat.
- 31/05/2010 02:21:27 AM
705 Views
See, you have a plan.
- 31/05/2010 04:08:24 AM
634 Views
yah. she's a stupid twat. and as you've pointed out, not the only one.
- 31/05/2010 04:42:20 AM
665 Views
What a useless leech.
- 31/05/2010 02:53:24 AM
669 Views
She works for a photographer.
- 31/05/2010 03:03:44 AM
687 Views

*NM*