Without a doubt, the study of literature, mythology, etc., provides a well-rounded education. No argument there. Studying those subjects is worthwhile.
But, for better or worse, colleges are the trade schools of today.
In the old days, fewer students finished high school, and even fewer went to college. So, back then, a high school diploma meant something, and a college degree was considered an impressive achievement.
As time went on, with each passing decade, more and more students finished high school and earned college degrees.
Now, a high school diploma means nothing, and a bachelor’s degree at minimum is required for even the low-level jobs.
So, today, most kids go to college because they have (or, at least, they believe they have) no other choice if they want a good job.
They are more interested in a career than they are in a well-rounded education, and they are paying a fortune. This is why I think literature should be an elective for STEM majors.
Also, I assume, when you say literature is important, you are talking about classical literature.
When I was in school, we were assigned books that were controversial for their time - for example, ‘Catcher in the Rye.’
Now, some of the books assigned in college literature courses are... weird. Even in high school, some of the books are downright disturbing with explicit content.
You are right about our dumbed down education and the majority in college as trade schools at best (though probably as often as four to six year parties paid by others).
But the low level of literacy of most of those students is shocking. It is not just humanities courses that have been grievously watered down. Because of their pathetically low levels of reading, studying and comprehension, students learn very little across the board.
Many are functioning around what you might have been familiar with at the 5th or 6th-grade level—and college courses have been modified to accommodate that.
I took several English and literature courses. NONE included a study of literature. Other than grammer(sp?), the “theme” taught, was socialism and opposition to limited government.
I learned something about literature:
- when I stumbled onto a book by the wife of a famous author
- when I was befriended by the sister of another famous author.
“But, for better or worse, colleges are the trade schools of today.“
You lost me here
Read the headline and the article. That’s the topic
Look at the election we just had. The so called president e just had.
Wool
At our culture
Look at the most popular movie right now
The state of our education system
What kids are getting taught
Look at the price of college. A trade school for $30 k per year?
What trades are they getting taught
They can’t read a book