Posted on 11/28/2017 6:37:36 AM PST by Kaslin
The study of the liberal arts is increasingly becoming passé. Schools are encouraged by government grants to infiltrate the classrooms with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and computer science instruction, creating a generation of programmable techies who are proficient at clicking but not at thinking.
As a frequent cellphone and computer user, I certainly do appreciate technological advances. What bothers me, however, is that government is involved in persuading schools what to teach and telling students what to study. I’m also disturbed by the consistent naysayers who dismiss studying the humanities as some frivolous, artistic venture that contains about as much value as Kim Kardashian’s views on the Gulf War. As someone who majored in the liberal arts, I can say that’s absolutely not true.
The James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal just published a very interesting piece titled, “Liberal Arts Education Is Not (Necessarily) a Waste of Time.” In the article, George Leef points out, “The liberal arts can be a practical education, but at too many schools there isn’t much education going on in their programs.”
Leef retells a story of a student who was considering studying history at Harvard, but when the student’s parents found out, was told the liberal arts are “a house of pain.” Leef explains there is a prevailing perception that those students who study “history, literature, philosophy or anything else that doesn’t have a clear occupational path is just throwing away years of school time and a great deal of money. Focus instead,” people say, “on practical subjects that might at least lead to a job after college.”
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
Helluva strawman in the first paragraph.
Notice that I said most and usually, not all or always. A small fraction of them wind up in elite occupations such as journalism, entertainment, marketing, and government. These are the people who mold public opinion, and it's critical that there be some conservatives among them. Otherwise the mass media and entertainment industry will be even more politically correct and left-skewed than they already are.
Furthermore, having conservatives in the liberal arts is critical in order to keep alive the literary and artistic heritage of the West, i.e. so that Shakespeare and Beethoven aren't replaced by the Vagina Monologues and Kanye West.
College is so expansive now that it is essentially an investment. People who invest that much (and generally borrow to do so) want a return on their investment. And a liberal arts degree doesn’t hold much chance of returning that investment for most.
I have four college age kids. The oldest have Associates degrees. One is working toward her bachelors online and paying her way.
One wisely quit school after one semester realizing that what she wanted as a major would never pay enough to justify the degree.
Number three is a senior in a STEM related field, Aerospace Engineering. He has limited loans and will likely pay them off in a year or two.
Number four is registering to get his Class A CDL and wants to be a truck driver.
I told them early on that we’d help them with college expenses as we could if they were going into a field that required a legitimate degree, like engineering. Liberal arts-Not a chance.
Way too many philosophy majors working at Starbucks
Part of the problem is that liberal arts has been infiltrated with politics. When I was taught philosophy and Romantic poetry in college, it was straightforward with intelligent professors. The other problem is that there is, indeed, a prejudice by people in the hard sciences and technology against the humanities - even when taught properly. The comments that will follow mine will bear that out.
When I was taught philosophy and Romantic poetry in college, it was straightforward with intelligent professors. The other problem is that there is, indeed, a prejudice by people in the hard sciences and technology against the humanities - even when taught properly.
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Boy, I miss the times of cogent wide ranging thought and intelligent discussions.
I got my liberal arts degree in the 1980s when it was still affordable. It made me more well rounded, well read, and gave me a foot in the door to a corporate career I’m still in. Anymore I’d only encourage someone to go for engineering or a hard science. Liberal arts has lost it’s bang for the buck.
Excellent article. Here’s my money quote:
“In short, the liberal arts is a giant roadblock on the path to socialism, so why wouldn’t the left want to undermine it?”
Consider Hillsdale College in Michigan. Focus on history, philosophy, etc. Even math and science majors benefit from thoughtful liberal arts education. I’m a professor of education who consistently criticizes the loads of pedagogical BS with which prospective teachers must suffer. I tell them that if I ran a school and could only teach one subject (other than reading and writing) it would be history. If I could teach one more it would be philosophy.
Our curriculum,” UD’s website says, “is based on a core that emphasizes the pursuit of truth and virtue in the classical Western tradition and the importance of academic rigor
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Liberal “Truths” that are “emphasized” to us all via MSM every day: sodomy is good, murdering babies out of the womb is good, lesbianism is good, hating cops is good, homelessness is good, illegal drug use is good, open borders are Great, urinating on the flag is good, burning the flag is better, we should hate our military is good, hating cops is good, killing cops is even better and I could go on and on and on. Liberalism is a “Disease” is GOOD for everybody to learn and take to heart.
My response to such nonsense is to say, “I reject your premise.” Can’t tell you how many times that simple sentence has knocked liberals back on their heels and put them on the defensive.
It’s fun; you should try it sometime.
The study of humanities is like a beautiful cake... but the communists who’ve taken over academia have filled that beautiful cake with rat poison.
And vice versa!
Considering that the author accuses STEM teaching is "creating a generation of programmable techies who are proficient at clicking but not at thinking," I think the prejudice runs both ways.
I do, on occasion.
I don't see how you can teach philosophy without the underlying political views of the teachers and authors seeping through - knowingly or not.
That's why it's so important to consider a wide range of views and have robust debates.
Romantic poetry? I'll have to take your word...
Besides the politicization of the Humanities, keep in mind that STEM majors are required to take humanities courses.
Meanwhile, how many university humanities majors are required to take calculus, rigorous statistical analysis, or real physics, chemistry, or biology courses as a graduation requirement?
Meanwhile, how many university humanities majors are required to take calculus, rigorous statistical analysis, or real physics, chemistry, or biology courses as a graduation requirement?
Exactly.
I tell WBill Jr. that it's OK to want to be an expert in "Medieval English Literature", or whatever other interesting but useless discipline.
Go to school, learn a skill or field that will pay the bills, and that will finance learning everything that there is to know about your preferred subject on your free time. "Both", is always an option in this case. It's one of those rare instances where you can have your cake and eat it too.
Unfortunately, there are all too many "Guidance Counselors" and College Admins that coach kids to "follow their dreams". Dreams are great, so long as they involve a topic that puts food on the table.
And, from my own experience, I'd *never* coach my kid into making his hobby into a career. I used to love computers, that's why I wound up in IT. Made a solid career out of it, and I don't particularly mind my job. However, a side effect is that I now can't stand computers, or anything electronic. I look at them all @#$@$@ day, no desire to do anything at all with them after hours. So - I gained a decent living, but lost something that I used to particularly enjoy.
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