Comments on: Imma let you get that training in the trades, but also … get your liberal arts degree!

By: Doug Alder

Doug Alder — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 19:03:04 +0000

Back in the ’60s when I was in high school the system funneled students into academic or trade streams. When first starting high school you selected which one you wanted but if you chose academic and didn’t shine at it you were pushed off into trades whether you liked it or not. I chose academic and despite missing almost my entire first year and the last quarter of my graduating year (’67) to illness I was able to stick with academic (I excelled in maths, English, and biology, totally sucked at French and chemistry, and was at best mediocre on the trades side.) It took me 4-5 years after that before I was convinced I should go to university and get a BA (English major)- I’ve never regretted taking that time to mature to the point I could handle university.

I completely agree with your suggestion that everyone should get liberal arts education, without it you are not likely to have a grasp of the fundamental nature of societies and how they arose, and regardless of whether you are a tradesperson or a scientist without liberal arts training you will be at risk for being easily manipulated by ~~politicians~~ con men of every stripe. I believe a good liberal arts education inculcates skepticism and that’s a good thing as history, philosophy and literature teach you (if you’re paying attention) that plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.

By: Greg T Laden

Greg T Laden — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 18:40:05 +0000

In reply to Tyvor Winn. Free or cheap associates level classwork, wouldn't be that expensive. About a fifth of it is already free given current pricing deals. A fifth or more is already handled by HS. It is the least expensive of the college offeringd to produce by a large margin. If the 4 tear budget for college is 200k wholesale price, this is probably 40k per student. That's within the range of a property tax levy for improving sidewalks.

By: Tyvor Winn

Tyvor Winn — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 18:34:10 +0000

In a country that more often than not turns down a local tax increase of a mill or two for public education, it may be a hard sell to get the public behind funding free collage, especially since even state university tuition amounts to a sizeable hunk of many people’s income and new textbooks are now routinely above $100 and some are in the $500 range.

It seems that many (most?) Americans are categorically against paying for governmental spending on things that might benefit someone else that they themselves had or have to pay for themselves. It’s perhaps the source of the viewpoint that American poor people aren’t really poor (many have refrigerators and tv) and therefore don’t deserve any help.