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1. JanS
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   http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/04/opinion/sunday/bruni-pass-fail-and-politics.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha212

   Posted 8 months ago #         

2. DBP
   Member Profile

   Jan, I'm not so sure about how much Americans learn in college, but if the American political system has taught us anything, it's this:

   1) A "D" student can still be President. *
   2) An "A" student can still be a screw-up. **

    
    

   * Not sayin' any names, but . . . George W. Bush.

   ** Not sayin' any names, but . . . William Jefferson "BJ" Clinton.

   Posted 8 months ago #         

3. kootchman
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   Yea... and a few had no college. Some darn good ones.

   Posted 7 months ago #         

4. JanS
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   Acollege education can help in some ways...but I have an almost 31 yo daughter who did not go to college, has a damned good job with a major Seattle company (makes more than twice as much as I do - lol), has worked her tail off since she was 15 and worked at a bagel place making sandwiches...and she's not a conservative Republican...she's a left leaning liberal...imagine that. I always told her there was more than one way to get an education...although some people feel that one can't get ahead with out that degree.

   I remember that she once dated a guy who majored in Philosophy in college...what's up with that? What the hell does that qualify you to do? Well, he can manage a book store, and has...but I'm not sure what else it can help you with, besides being more articulate..

   Posted 7 months ago #         

5. JoB
   Member Profile

   JanS..

   a major in philosophy teaches you to look at the assumptions in any argument..
   an invaluable life skill.

   the problem is that we now look at education as trade school and discount the benefits of nurturing curiosity, instilling both a work ethic and project planning skills and teaching students to question what they think know.

   Can you learn that outside of a classroom?
   yes, you can.

   but those who can tell you why without an advanced education are few and far between.

   and if all you are looking at is job training...
   it generally takes much longer to work your way up in a company to gain a position where you can utilize those managerial and entrepreneurial skills without a college education
   and generally speaking, you have to make a lot more mistakes to succeed.

   DP...

   I have never seen any correlation between male intelligence and skirt chasing.

   Posted 7 months ago #         

6. datamuse
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   Professional training programs aside, the purpose of college is not to qualify you for a job.
   .
   I dated a philosophy major for awhile. Best damn bartender I've ever met. So?

   Posted 7 months ago #         

7. datamuse
   Member Profile

   

   ...that said, Jan, take a look at the logical argument (or lack thereof) in our existing political discourse and see if you can answer your own question. :D

   Posted 7 months ago #         

8. Julie
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   Well, Jan, I might not make big bucks, but I hardly think that means my education was worthless....I was a philosophy major.

   Posted 7 months ago #         

9. JanS
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   I don't think your college education was worthless either. That's for the record :)

   Posted 7 months ago #         

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