You can login if you already have an account or register by clicking the button below.
Registering is free and all you need is a username and password. We never ask you for your e-mail.
I don't know that they ever focused exclusively on STEM. Sure, they debated better books back in the day, but there's always been a great deal of trivial discourse. University was also a place for bookish people who didn't need jobs to hang around and discuss whatever interested them.
One thing I think has gone wrong is a confusion between secondary schooling, scholarship, and vocational training. Nothing wrong with reading some good books -- I think most people benefit from it. Getting more time in school is beneficial, and a lot of people will benefit from that studying in their jobs. But schooling is not a substitute for vocational training, nor for apprenticeship, both of which should exist. Most jobs which currently "require" a college degree ought not to. But I'm not saying people shouldn't go to school. More like do both.
view the rest of the comments →
[–] bonghits4jeebus 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
I don't know that they ever focused exclusively on STEM. Sure, they debated better books back in the day, but there's always been a great deal of trivial discourse. University was also a place for bookish people who didn't need jobs to hang around and discuss whatever interested them.
[–] NoApologyTour ago
It wasn’t exclusive, they’ve had Law and English departments for centuries. But the focus, particularly in regards to research, has been STEM.
Now everything has been branded a science and is studied. Often through a social lens with no real scientific principles at all (ie gender studies).
[–] bonghits4jeebus ago
One thing I think has gone wrong is a confusion between secondary schooling, scholarship, and vocational training. Nothing wrong with reading some good books -- I think most people benefit from it. Getting more time in school is beneficial, and a lot of people will benefit from that studying in their jobs. But schooling is not a substitute for vocational training, nor for apprenticeship, both of which should exist. Most jobs which currently "require" a college degree ought not to. But I'm not saying people shouldn't go to school. More like do both.