Re: Educational Arms Race

More | Report Post

L, this doesn't make sense. They need more education to be
effective at what? If you want to be an accountant, study
accounting. What's the need for all this extra fluff work,
other than to create jobs for professors? The problem with
College, is that it is too "liberal" in the sense that it
teaches too much. Teach everything and they will have
skills in nothing.

My idea for College is that it last 2 years, with only say 5-
6 majors available: Accounting, Economics, Chemistry,
Biology, Mathematics, and Physics. Leave computer science
for the technical schools. Leave hostory, poli sci,
English, and all that other B.A. crap for the public library
where it belongs.

Within each major, there are basic courses in persuasive
writing, effective speaking and negotiating, and a
requirement that Spanish be learned in basic proficiency
before being allowed to graduate.

Each major is concentrated on heavily from the beginning,
all the way until graduation. Within each major are related
field courses that are mandatory. For example, Accounting
and Economics majors must take courses in Finance and Math.
The three science majors must take basic courses in the
other sciences, as well as math.

If you want to pursue other fields, like finance or advanced
math, you have that option upon graduation, to go to the
Master's level.

Under this system, broke, bored, and useless "students"
don't find themselves taking courses in "The History of Zen"
or "The Role of Women in Business" or "Societal Problems"
or "The History of African American Economists"
or "Underwater Basketweaving and the Native American." You
learn this stuff in the public library or buying a book on
Ebay.

This is an idea of how the system MUST change, or Indians
and Chinese will one day lord over the American. Compare an
Indian or Chinese student with their American peer, and your
faith in our future to compete will be badly shaken.

On 5/10/06, L wrote:
> Blue mentioned the term "educational arms race" to
> describe the rising educational credentials of
> professionals, etc. Actually, I think professionals in
> the 21st century need far more education than ever to be
> effective. Assuming resources are no objection, I think
> the following would be an ideal post-secondary
> curriculum. I list the subject with the number of course
> units (1 c.u. =3 college semester hours.)
>
> history 6; philosophy 4; literature 6; religion 2
> poliSci 4, psych 4, math 6, physics 4, chemistry 4,
> biology 4, sociology 2, statistics 4, Computers/IT 8;
> anthro 2; accounting 10, finance 8, General Management 10,
> Law 4 years, including tax law courses, Chinese 10,
> Spanish 8, Japanese 6, engineering 4, Leadership 2,
> Communication 4, automechanics/life skills 4, etc.
>
> I actually think that colleges should be about 10 years
> long to adequately accommodate all these courses.
>
> Blue, you never answered my questions: what courses did
> you take in high school and college? did you get enough
> grounding in the liberal arts?