Winters, Clint: Paglia

In the article “Revalorizing the Trades,” Camille Paglia states that colleges need to focus less on the traditional college model, and concentrate on a more job-specific education model similar to that of  trade schools. Her plan might work for some people, but for a large number of students (possibly myself included), a degree plan that prepares the student for only one job is not a good idea. The problem with this form of education is quite simple. Overspecialization can leave many people unable to find a job, and others that do find a spot may realize that they don't actually like it.

It's almost a crime to ask an eighteen year-old freshman what they want to do for the rest of their lives. Nevertheless that's what society asks. If you choose wrong, taking a super-specific degree, then that's just too bad, unless you have the time and money to go back to school. Students who pursue a more broad major can find a different job, one that they were prepared for.

I've always been told that a Liberal Arts degree doesn't train a person for the workforce; it teaches you how to think instead. In my opinion, knowing how to think is more important than being actually taught how to do just one job.  Liberal Arts colleges shouldn't be the only ones doing teaching students how to think. Save for some programs that have to be specific, such as pre-med, all of the colleges in the university should teach more broadly. Business colleges have a nice head start considering that a business degree can get someone a career in a broad variety of industries. Options are always good, regardless of what career field one is in.

People can argue all they want about the benefits of more down to earth, trade-oriented people in the workforce today, but the flipside of that is also true. Big ideas come from the people who think outside the box; people who are not only creative, but also have the critical thought skills to turn their idea into reality. That's not saying that everyone with a degree from a broad-thinking major will have these skills, but the chances are the ones who can do this would probably surface more if more of the curriculum encouraged higher thinking. It's probably not logical to say that if these programs were to cease, so would progress, but it's probably a step in that direction.

Granted, a broad education might not appeal to everyone, and its no secret that the bottom line for any university is money. A compromise between both systems would be ideal for everyone. The college could have trade school type programs alongside the traditional courses and majors. This would hopefully keep attendance and enrollment from dropping off sharply as trade schools become more popular, as they inevitably will.