Wisconsin native.
"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."--GKC
"Liberalism is the modern and morbid habit of always sacrificing the normal to the abnormal" --G K Chesterton
"The only objective of Liberty is Life" --G K Chesterton
"A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition." -- Rudyard Kipling
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
The Value of College
Yesterday we referenced a posting at Kevin's place about whether we need more college graduates.
Marquette is a private university. What's your problem with them offering any course of study for which there is a demand from their tuition-paying students?
A private university can offer as many degrees as it chooses, however, that does mean they can also simultaneously cheapen the value of its degrees (as a whole). By offering this degree, Marquette is doing so.
Jim, as you voice your opinion, D29 and I will do the same.
By offering this degree, Marquette is [cheapening the value of its degrees.]
Why? We're not talking basket weaving here. I haven't looked at the catalog, but if general education requirements are met, I imagine that this major could include all kinds of relevant academic courses like Sociology, Philosophy (ethics), Business, Labor Management, Marketing, Psychology, and much more.
Jim, as someone who works at a private "catholic" college, this IS about finding ways to attract more students while dumbing down the requirements to graduate. & yes, the value of a degree has been greatly cheapened over the past 33 yrs since I got mine.
OK. So who says that any field of study that includes a serious academic curriculum which prepares and qualifies someone for a rewarding career isn't education? See my list above of course work that might very likely be part of such a curriculum. Any of those subjects not "education"?
How do you "cheapen" the value of a Marquette degree? Isn't Father Wild doing a pretty good job of that right now?
I agree that Marquette shouldn't have to hire someone who doesn't share its core values, but that's not the point now. Marquette went after this woman twice, apparently, then discovered that she "doesn't think right" AFTER extending the job offer and AFTER she accepted it!
Mickey Mouse University. This will harm Marquette's recruiting efforts for years, both for students as well as for faculty.
Every one of the above is trade-school coursework. They are 'tools' courses, like mechanical drawing, stress-engineering, circuits.
The idea that "education" includes trade-school coursework is strictly a product of 'enlightenment' thinking, given a very hefty push by industrialists (and later, Governmentalists) with the idea that they could obtain 'trained labor.'
IOW, "what IS": the tri- and quad-rivia, is education. The rest is accessorizing.
Marquette is a private university. What's your problem with them offering any course of study for which there is a demand from their tuition-paying students?
ReplyDeleteA private university can offer as many degrees as it chooses, however, that does mean they can also simultaneously cheapen the value of its degrees (as a whole). By offering this degree, Marquette is doing so.
ReplyDeleteJim, as you voice your opinion, D29 and I will do the same.
By offering this degree, Marquette is [cheapening the value of its degrees.]
ReplyDeleteWhy? We're not talking basket weaving here. I haven't looked at the catalog, but if general education requirements are met, I imagine that this major could include all kinds of relevant academic courses like Sociology, Philosophy (ethics), Business, Labor Management, Marketing, Psychology, and much more.
How would this cheapen the value of its degrees?
Jim, as someone who works at a private "catholic" college, this IS about finding ways to attract more students while dumbing down the requirements to graduate. & yes, the value of a degree has been greatly cheapened over the past 33 yrs since I got mine.
ReplyDeleteJim, MU can pitch any coursework it wants to; if someone wants to pay for it, fine.
ReplyDeleteThat's not the issue. "What is education" IS the issue.
MS/Athletics Management? Let's be serious here. That's no more "education" than is MS/Social Work.
But then, why would MU take seriously Cardinal Newman's "Idea of a University" when there are dollars to be gained?
"What is education" IS the issue.
ReplyDeleteOK. So who says that any field of study that includes a serious academic curriculum which prepares and qualifies someone for a rewarding career isn't education? See my list above of course work that might very likely be part of such a curriculum. Any of those subjects not "education"?
How do you "cheapen" the value of a Marquette degree? Isn't Father Wild doing a pretty good job of that right now?
ReplyDeleteI agree that Marquette shouldn't have to hire someone who doesn't share its core values, but that's not the point now. Marquette went after this woman twice, apparently, then discovered that she "doesn't think right" AFTER extending the job offer and AFTER she accepted it!
Mickey Mouse University. This will harm Marquette's recruiting efforts for years, both for students as well as for faculty.
Sociology,... Business, Labor Management, Marketing, Psychology
ReplyDeleteEvery one of the above is trade-school coursework. They are 'tools' courses, like mechanical drawing, stress-engineering, circuits.
The idea that "education" includes trade-school coursework is strictly a product of 'enlightenment' thinking, given a very hefty push by industrialists (and later, Governmentalists) with the idea that they could obtain 'trained labor.'
IOW, "what IS": the tri- and quad-rivia, is education. The rest is accessorizing.
So there should be one degree then, right?
ReplyDelete