[HPforGrownups] Re: I have a problem, Socio Economic data and HP + OT question about American College education.

[Amanda Lewanski]

No: HPFGUIDX 5102

Okay, I'm typing with a rugrat at my feet, occasionally pushing buttons, but
here's my take on the eduational thing. The U.S. in the past differentiated
between a trade school, where you learned only what you needed to practice said
trade, and the colleges and universities, where you went to continue/complete
your education. Originally, completion of high school was supposed to give you
the basic education you needed for life and the pursuit of happiness. You could
then get a job, go to a trade school, or "continue your education" at a college
or university. The latter was a continuance of high school, with emphasis on
several different areas to provide a so-called rounded education. Most colleges
and universities in the U.S. still have a "core curriculum," which constitutes
that basic rounded education--English, math, some language, usually some
elective choices for things like philosophy, some science, etc. There's choice
built in, but you must take some courses in several areas. One's major selection
then adds, on top of the core, the specialized courses you must take for a
degree in that major.

A lot of universities, however, are finding that it is increasingly difficult
for students to complete all the requirements in four years. My then-boyfriend
went to Texas A&M and majored in Nuclear Engineering, and I think he was in his
third year before he could even consider an elective. Part of the problem is
with the "major" part of the degree--the information the majors are imparting
keeps getting more specialized, so it takes more time to teach it. Another part
is with the "core" part of the degree--more and more students arrive at college
and have to take loads of remedial courses before they can even take the
college-level ones.

I happen to believe in the well-rounded education, so I don't really have a
problem with the system as it stands. I'm the type who just likes to learn
things, but I can see the point of the people who just want to learn their
field. Different universities are trying different things to fit the desired
courses into a four-year plan, but the wheels of change creak slowly in a
conservative field like education. But this was meant to be a "how we got to
where we are right now" discussion.

Anyway, that's my perception. I got to redo the UTSA undergraduate and graduate
catalogs some years ago, and got into some discussions with various educators
and administrators on the reasons behind why this and that was done. I hope this
is coherent, I keep having to stop and extricate the baby from whatever. My
husband's taken the older two away to the beach, and I only have one kid! What
luxury!

--Amanda