2008 Woodie Awards
Few students read textbooks, but that shouldn't be surprsing
By: Chad Puterbaugh
Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: Forum
Modern culture is saturated with the market system. From the number of advertisements one sees each day to even the sacrosanct realm of academics, the market is ever spreading.
This phenomenon has not come without consequence.
The American higher education system has traditionally been one of tremendous rigor and prestige. From cutting-edge ideas to the freedom to pursue them, intellectuals in the past century have flocked to the prospect of partaking in the American higher education system.
Yet, of late, there has been a decline in the quality of individuals who graduate with their bachelor's degree. While the impetus is likely to be multivariable, at least one is very apparent in everyday classrooms: Students don't read their textbooks.
If one is accustomed to looking, it is very plain to see who reads their textbook and who does not. Look for the blank stares in your class. Many critiques of modern education's decline often blame a decrease in liberal education and an increase in technical job training.
I propose that there is a very simple economic analysis to describe how the rise of technical education acts as an enabling mechanism, permitting students not to read their textbooks.
The opposite of the traditional, liberal education is sometimes referred to as a technical education.
The virtues of focusing one's attention on his or her future profession can streamline the training process, and allow students to enter the workforce in an expedited fashion.
Given that a technical career requires certification or licensing, a student will recognize an institution such as college as the primary mechanism to get a job in their desired industry.
Thus, in order for a student to get a job, there is at least one major goal to accomplish: graduate college.
Yet, a career is not the only part of a student's future life. Anyone alive also has a number of other things that he or she would like to do, from having friends, to skills and hobbies, to raising kids.
This phenomenon has not come without consequence.
The American higher education system has traditionally been one of tremendous rigor and prestige. From cutting-edge ideas to the freedom to pursue them, intellectuals in the past century have flocked to the prospect of partaking in the American higher education system.
Yet, of late, there has been a decline in the quality of individuals who graduate with their bachelor's degree. While the impetus is likely to be multivariable, at least one is very apparent in everyday classrooms: Students don't read their textbooks.
If one is accustomed to looking, it is very plain to see who reads their textbook and who does not. Look for the blank stares in your class. Many critiques of modern education's decline often blame a decrease in liberal education and an increase in technical job training.
I propose that there is a very simple economic analysis to describe how the rise of technical education acts as an enabling mechanism, permitting students not to read their textbooks.
The opposite of the traditional, liberal education is sometimes referred to as a technical education.
The virtues of focusing one's attention on his or her future profession can streamline the training process, and allow students to enter the workforce in an expedited fashion.
Given that a technical career requires certification or licensing, a student will recognize an institution such as college as the primary mechanism to get a job in their desired industry.
Thus, in order for a student to get a job, there is at least one major goal to accomplish: graduate college.
Yet, a career is not the only part of a student's future life. Anyone alive also has a number of other things that he or she would like to do, from having friends, to skills and hobbies, to raising kids.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
none
posted 4/17/08 @ 11:28 AM EST
"The plain truth, however, is that there is no economic incentive to do more work than this. Perhaps, ultimately, it is the professor's job to provide that motivation. (Continued…)
Post a Comment