Well, he did it again.  Governor Walker let his true colors shine through.  By attempting to change the mission of the great University of Wisconsin system- and then attempting to retract, when he found he had no backers.

But, the real issue is whether universities are to educate their students or prepare them for jobs.  To be honest, that’s still not really the question.   Because so many think making college train our children (or ourselves) for jobs means that their role is to teach us trades and functions.

I know you find this a funny statement coming from one who is an engineer; one who wonders what one does with degrees in Women’s Studies, Popular Culture, LGBT Studies, Surf Science, etc.   Oh, I am not against learning these subjects- just against them being official choices for majors.  Because the only function I see is that major provides one the ability to teach others to major in such matters.

When I matriculated, the battle from which Walker retreated was just beginning.  The darling of those who disagree with me, Ronald Reagan, became governor of California and uttered a similar concept to Walker’s… state universities – which meant taxpayer support- should not be subsidizing intellectual curiosity. (He made that statement roughly 48 years ago today).

(I won’t even bother to explain how asinine that thought was- and still is.  The only folks who don’t need to develop intellectual curiosity are those pig-headed individuals we seem to elect every two or four years.)

But, I do wonder why we now award only 25% of our bachelor’s degrees in arts and sciences (English, math, biology, chemistry)- when before Reagan started his crazy culture wars that number was more than twice as high. Now, the most popular undergraduate major is business and most of the other degrees are awarded for education, communications, sports management- and computer gamery!

It’s not just the limited degrees that makes one less likely to be employed.  (Although you can bet an employer will wonder how you are qualified to help it grow its business or improve consumer satisfaction if your degree is in LGBT Studies- unless that is its target market.)

When I went to college, we had a plethora of tasks and activities that required teams and teamwork. We had projects that required we apply what we learned in class to the real world.  (I have written before how one of my professors sold a design a team of us developed to a locality for waste treatment.)  Those teaming and application skills don’t seem to be developed in colleges now- but they should be.  Because these are skills that are not dependent upon one’s major and are critical skills an enterprises of any size desires in its staff.

Moreover, when I recently went back to teaching, I was dismayed with the quality of student.  Because the students expected good grades for showing up- not for doing quality work.  They expected me to tell them what questions would be on the exam- and could not discern that when I spent more time on a specific area, that meant it was an important concept. No, they expected their syllabus to detail what they needed to now and when; they did not understand that the initiative was their requirement and not the professors.

It seems that students don’t realize that the point of their college education is to help them hone their skills of critical reasoning.   That is among the skills they need to acquire and augment before graduating.   (This factor does not seem to be as big a problem with those students who studied math and science- but from what I have seen that is not universal across all colleges.)

If students were to be rigorous in their education, learning how to learn, work in teams, and critically analyze the materials they claim to master, the student will be able to work in almost any field and for almost any employer upon graduation.  Because those skills are universally needed and in demand.

Oh, and students should take standardized tests in these skills. Because, as is shown on the chart above,  despite their own self-assessment, employers and professors clearly see their shortcomings…

Share this: