Posted on 10/22/2011 2:17:18 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Tampa, Florida - If you're a student trying to earn a degree in anthropology, or even journalism, Governor Rick Scott says don't bother.
He says if the state is to compete for the best jobs, he wants students focusing on science, engineering, and math. Governor Scott says Florida needs more graduates in high tech fields so companies will consider relocating to the Sunshine State. But he's being criticized for his idea to shift tax dollars away from liberal arts majors like anthropology and journalism.
Natalie Odom is majoring in mass communications at the University of South Florida. She says, "I think it's awful because not everyone has an interest in math and science and if he cuts out areas that people have an interest in, that is just going to make for less students enrolled in college because they may not want to study a field that they have no desire or passion to study."
It's not clear what evidence Governor Scott has that graduates have less job prospects in the anthropology and journalism fields. According to the Miami Herald, liberal arts majors represent a small slice of all Florida undergraduate degrees: 4.7 percent. According to the American Anthropology Association, about 64 percent of those with a graduate degree in anthropology find a job within 12 months of graduating.
Staff members from USF'S Department of Anthropology say it's considered one of the best in the country and has been a consistent job creator for Tampa and the state of Florida. Brent Weisman, Ph.D. is the chair of the department and says the governor's statement is "completely uninformed. That's a statement made without any basis in fact."
Weisman adds, "I think it's an impressionist, anecdotal statement based on perhaps the stereotype of anthropology as a discipline that studies underwater basket weaving or something like that. It bears no relation to reality."
USF also has a career center that is free and open to all students regardless of what they're studying. Counselors are on hand to give students the tools they need to land a job whether it's how to dress for an interview or put together a resume. They put on job fairs and many employers visit the center to conduct interviews with students.
Dan Van Hoose is the assistant director of The Career Center and says, "They're exploring. They're learning. They're growing. They just know they have an interest in that academic topic. That doesn't necessarily define their skill set for life at that point in time."
She says, “I think it’s awful because not everyone has an interest in math and science and if he cuts out areas that people have an interest in, that is just going to make for less students enrolled in college because they may not want to study a field that they have no desire or passion to study.”
Honey, I was a mass communications major so you can take this to the bank, the major is a joke. You will find out the hard way that the entry level positions in the industry are jobs that pay nothing and can be performed by high school juniors you’ll wish you hadn’t waisted your time and mommy and daddy’s money.
Ithink you and I agree on more than we disagree on, CW. I wish Governor Perry every success in his education endeavors.
“According to the American Anthropology Association, about 64 percent of those with a graduate degree in anthropology find a job within 12 months of graduating”
Why do I get the notion that the only bones these anthropology graduates are picking through are the ones that
they uncover working the fryer at Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Interesting comments. I heard that outstanding student loans stand at One TRILLION dollars. That's jaw dropping. Now the government is the one who will be giving out all student loans. How can they dictate who gets them? Who should learn what? Who's loans are forgiven if they work here? Etc. The cost of education is off the charts -- it has risen faster than anything else.
You'd have to work hard to create this -- the Bill Ayers of the world and 50 years of anti-American free market capitalism has brought us to "Occupy Wall Street" and beyond. I read this morning that St Pauls in London had to close (first time since WWII) because "Occupy" is camped out around it and no one is safe trying to pass through to enter the church. They don't think it will reopen until at least Christmas.
I agree.
The article you posted had not a mention of Texas or Perry in it, why did you even post it.
Don’t you think you might confine your posts to ones that directly discuss what Perry has done, instead of altering the heading with, (Rick Perry’s push for reform),
Desperation is unbecoming......
These #OWS idiots rack up $100,000 in debt for a useless environmental or womens' studies degree, and then blame WALL STREET when the graduate and realize there are no jobs for that nonsense, because there is no USE for anyone who studies such unchallenging dreck. Rick Scott is dead right. America need ENGINEERS and other key studies. If you want a degree in anthropology, you'd better have a trust fund, because you sure can't count on a decent paying job offer for that nonsense.
lol
Thanks!
It’s nice to meet under a truce flag.
I'm sorry to confuse. The ideas Gov. Scott is advocating came from Rick Perry. He has brought this to the attention of GOP governors -- when he served as chairman of the RGA (just resigned from his 2nd time in that role).
I linked information in the thread to give more information. I want others to learn more about what Gov. Perry has been doing about education, as well as how he's actively encouraged other states to follow his lead.
Gov. Perry believes education -- like most things -- is done better close to home.
According to the Miami Herald, liberal arts majors represent a small slice of all Florida undergraduate degrees: 4.7 percent.
***
4.7% of undergrads that don’t lend to manufacturing knowhow in engineering, math, CompSci, ...
***
According to the American Anthropology Association, about 64 percent of those with a graduate degree in anthropology find a job within 12 months of graduating.
***
“Find a job” probably in academia, or teaching, which amounts to recycling globally useless knowledge for another generation.
***
Staff members from USF’S Department of Anthropology say it’s considered one of the best
***
Totally biased source.
***
in the country and has been a consistent job creator for Tampa and the state of Florida.
***
“Job creator” so far as taxes are confiscated from small business and home owners.
***
“I think it’s an impressionist, anecdotal statement based on perhaps the stereotype of anthropology as a discipline that studies underwater basket weaving or something like that. It bears no relation to reality.”
***
I knew someone who majored in Anthropology: She was super smart, but she needed to go to medical school to be employable.
I am not employable because of the easy peazy paper writing fluffy poof classes I took to get my college degree.
I am employable because I am a C/C++ software developer, with Perl, 3D rendering, network programming, system administration, web development, and database programming under by belt.
And because you don't babble like this:
"They're exploring. They're learning. They're growing. They just know they have an interest in that academic topic. That doesn't necessarily define their skill set for life at that point in time."
Bump!
“Natalie Odom is majoring in mass communications. She says, “I think it’s awful because not everyone has an interest in math and science...”
Natalie is a moron. She can’t figure that she CAN get her degree in mass comm and also study science or engineering. Degreed mass communication majors should have the ability to write about science.
She could be a highly qualified writer who specializes in science and make a bundle. Good science writers can name their own price for writing literate and scientifically acurate articles.
Let’s give Natalie a big DUH!!! She’s a honking liberal and too stupid to figure that out.
If you’re a student trying to earn a degree in anthropology, or even journalism, Governor Rick Scott says don’t bother.
These #OWS idiots rack up $100,000 in debt for a useless environmental or womens’ studies degree, and then blame WALL STREET when the graduate and realize there are no jobs for that nonsense, because there is no USE for anyone who studies such unchallenging dreck. Rick Scott is dead right. America need ENGINEERS and other key studies. If you want a degree in anthropology, you’d better have a trust fund, because you sure can’t count on a decent paying job offer for that nonsense.
***
In the “good old days” the economy was growing so fast, that you could major in anything, and get a good job upon graduation.
You are welcome.
We are both fighting hard for what we believe is right for America’s future generations. May we both win!
She meant to say that they are “lesser students”.
You’ll get quite an education just reading the comments left at that site by some Kool-Aid drinkers.
Hopefully Gov Scott won’t support subsidizing the education of illegal immigrants like Perry does.
“Gov. Perry believes education — like most things — is done better close to home. “
So why doesn’t he support illegals going home to get their education?
Gov. Scott is talking about earning degrees in fields that lead to employment in the private sector with companies that actually create something of value (wealth).
He knows very well that degrees in Wymen’s Studies, Queer Studies, African Folk Art of the 18th Century, etc., etc. lead mostly to the unemployment line or, for a minority, to employment in the government or government subsidized organizations where wealth is absorbed, not created.
He is trying to direct people into productive areas of commerce so they don’t end up sleeping on the streets with Occupy Wall Street, whining that they can’t find jobs that utilize their skills.
The Governor deserves kudos instead of brickbats.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.