They are primarily indoctrination centers.
So I see how all of these useless studies get done, get a college professor to write for a grant.
I have previously asked aloud whether a good way for a budding young economics professor to NOT get tenure, is to do a cost-benefit analysis of different classes, or majors, at the institution he works at. Compare starting salaries of recent grads, with their course lists, and see whether there is enough data to place an economic value on each course. Probably a lot of the classes will have negative value, those people who take such a course will get a lower salary than someone who doesn’t. I think this will upset enough people on the tenure committee to ensure an unfavorable outcome.
I think the biggest problem is the drift away from Classical Education to the factory-like method we try to use now where its all about completed Paperwork. If the Universities could just teach people to truly understand ideas by making the Students read the primary sources, and discuss those, we’d get a lot farther.
(compared to rewards for great research.)
I would contend that today’s professors get rewarded for maintaining the socialist status quo.
Global warming was certainly not “great research”, but it was highly rewarded. Grants were easy to get.
If a student is grousing about the quality of instruction they receive in class - they have no business being in college. Learning is something the student does for themselves. The professor is there to direct them to what they should be studying, and keep them to some sort of schedule through regular testing intervals. Expecting anything else is a kindergarten mentality (which isn’t to say that plenty of people aren’t herded through our higher education system with just such a mindset).
Education racket ping!
It would actually be cheaper to hire a private tutor at $50/hr for every single student for 4 years, than university tuition.
It always bugged me that you need state certification to teach K-12 but any yutz can teach in college as long as they can get themselves hired. You don’t even need to be able to speak English.
Over the last century university education has gone from an elite privilege that perhaps 5% of the population would have access to, to a commodity that essentially everyone can get.
I disagree, there are way too may people in college and way too many college loans outstanding. Students are herded into classrooms and taught the way you describe because that’s the way the administration makes money. Meanwhile, there is tremendous pressure on instructors to keep the standards low, the grades high and the customers happy. There is not much of value being taught in many of these classes and few of the students are learning much. Far fewer kids should be in college and most of the savings should go towards vocational schools and training. I teach at a mid-size university and I am of the opinion that the place should be mostly defunded. I recommend this book to all - http://www.thefiveyearparty.com/