Having not yet read the article distributed by Jim, I nevertheless feel
I must also jump in to this conversation.  There seems to be an
undertone that LA education and "vocational" education are at opposite
ends of some spectrum.  I would argue not!!!  I have always taught
accounting and law in what I would describe as LA mode - not focused on
how to do something, but rather how to think critically and reflectively
in the context of my discipline(s).  I am not preparing my students to
do a particular job, but rather how to think about the subject matter of
their jobs.  I have had non-business majors, and hope they learned as
much in my courses as those who were.  I further believe that any
so-called "vocational" training, must include an opportunity for
extensive diversity in course selections, and an opportunity to "browse"
through the college curriculum.  I believe this philosophy is widely
held by my colleagues in the business disciplines, and probably also by
many others in those disciplines not traditionally part of the LA
curriculum.  

Hope you all have a good break.

Bob

-----Original Message-----
From: Teaching Breakfast List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of <Rick Jagels>
Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2005 10:50 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Recent Story About Students in Detroit News

As someone who believes that education is the goal of a college such as
ours not so much training for a specific career- I
disagree with some of the authors premise.  The ability to think
critically, be aware of  many career possibilities, have some
understanding of cultures and history, derive pleasure from the pursuit
of art and music of many kinds, learn to live in an environment of
diverse views, races, cultures: these are some of the loftier goals of
education.  The author's contention that students are too rich and have
no career goals misses the point. Interestingly the limited purpose of
"job training" is, I believe, MORE dangerous than career
purposelessness.  They will change careers too often for us to train
them for only one.  Ethics, Art, communication, composition, history
etc. are ultimately of the greatest value.  Three cheers for the
purposelessness student with an indiscriminant intellectual appetite!
Now- where the hell are they??

Rick Jagels
 





-----Original Message-----
From: Teaching Breakfast List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Jim Greenberg
Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2005 9:00 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Recent Story About Students in Detroit News

This was a good read.. Thought this group would find it interesting....

Title: Lack of purpose haunts students

http://www.detnews.com/2005/editorial/0502/13/A15-87606.htm

Jim Greenberg
--