Posted: Thu 10 Aug 2006 21:49 Post subject: College Education
To recieve a college education, what does that mean to you?
In the 19th century, from my understanding, intelligent people were expected to read an be able to converse on philosophy, history and science. Does a "college education" mean that to you?
Also for all those college educated (meaning recieved a degree), how much has continuous reading outside of class and school formed or developed the bulk of your knowldege and understanding?
Posted: Fri 11 Aug 2006 15:53 Post subject: Re: College Education
e harmoni wrote:
To recieve a college education, what does that mean to you?
In the 19th century, from my understanding, intelligent people were expected to read an be able to converse on philosophy, history and science. Does a "college education" mean that to you?
Also for all those college educated (meaning recieved a degree), how much has continuous reading outside of class and school formed or developed the bulk of your knowldege and understanding?
Not anymore. IMO universities churn out more intellectually bereft people than ever before. I also believe that the most important thing one should learn at the university level is how to critically think about information that is disseminated. I'm not sure most professors take the time, especially at Research 1 institutions, to teach students how to think critically. There are also a lot of self-important ideologues who'd rather sell their books and brainwash rather than teach. I do not mean to dump on all of the great professors who teach with a passion and love their students and the classroom. I certainly had some professors like that.
Continuous reading and individual study is a must to become a knowledgeable adult. College only whetted my appetite for this, and I'm sure many people without degrees didn't need to go to college to educate themselves in this manner.
Posted: Fri 11 Aug 2006 18:32 Post subject: Re: College Education
sagascend wrote:
e harmoni wrote:
To recieve a college education, what does that mean to you?
In the 19th century, from my understanding, intelligent people were expected to read an be able to converse on philosophy, history and science. Does a "college education" mean that to you?
Also for all those college educated (meaning recieved a degree), how much has continuous reading outside of class and school formed or developed the bulk of your knowldege and understanding?
Not anymore. IMO universities churn out more intellectually bereft people than ever before. I also believe that the most important thing one should learn at the university level is how to critically think about information that is disseminated. I'm not sure most professors take the time, especially at Research 1 institutions, to teach students how to think critically. There are also a lot of self-important ideologues who'd rather sell their books and brainwash rather than teach. I do not mean to dump on all of the great professors who teach with a passion and love their students and the classroom. I certainly had some professors like that.
Continuous reading and individual study is a must to become a knowledgeable adult. College only whetted my appetite for this, and I'm sure many people without degrees didn't need to go to college to educate themselves in this manner.
Thanks for the reply.
I ask the questions because ever so often I find some people on the internet whom seem like they have been studying for like 300 years with the best books and at the best institutes of higher learning for all the knowledge they have. And not just knowledge but to the degree they comprehend those things they know too.
On the other hand I can converse with some who have been to college for 4 years and recieved a diploma but don't seem be everything I would expect that earned diploma to be. And I don't mean to be a prick I understand everyone has their strong points and weak points. But I'm just trying to make sense out of what seems like this big disparity to me.
I do place high value on personal reading, because it has greatly improved my own knowledge and understanding. So great a help it has been on my improvement that it gives me a faux image of actually being more "properly" educated than I am .
I also read a book once written by two philosophers who stated that a book itself comprises a teacher. I never thought of it like that before but it makes sense. I mean one can learn from a professor by reading a book a professor has written and published.
I also read a book once written by two philosophers who stated that a book itself comprises a teacher. I never thought of it like that before but it makes sense. I mean one can learn from a professor by reading a book a professor has written and published.
Man that is sooooo true!
One advantage of college is that you can discuss research and books with the people who have written them, or are experts in the field of study. Unfortunately that level of interaction is usually reserved for graduate students and honors programs.
The disparity you mentioned is not unusual, unfortunately. Professors have a lot of leeway in how they teach a subject and aren't under a tremendous amount of scrutiny. Schools on the quarter schedule tend to cram more information into shorter periods of study, so how much of that is really absorbed? Who really has time to read a whole book (or 6!) in 2.5 months? Universities also differ - the most prestigious names often teach the least. Using graduate students as undergraduate teachers is the norm in the best schools.
This is just my opinion but I think most universities are turning into vocational schools. You don't go to college to broaden your mind - you go to learn a set of skills in a field that will get you a job. A traditional liberal arts education doesn't really pay the bills once you get your diploma - engineering, business and non-social science majors make more money on average coming out of school.
Joined: 10 Mar 2006 {Posts: 235 } Location: Atlanta
Posted: Fri 11 Aug 2006 22:45 Post subject:
Education requires a willingness to be educated. You can get through four years of college, go through the motions, get a BA and not be educated. You can drop out of school at 12 and have the critical thinking skills of Confucius and Einstein. What matters, ultimately, is whether you are willing to take the time to read, think, and learn.
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