"Masters in English. Will mow lawns."

[CG6468]

Ain't edumacation grand?

The 'Education' Mantra
by  Thomas Sowell
05/10/2011

One of the sad and dangerous signs of our times is how many people are enthralled by words, without bothering to look at the realities behind those words.
   
One of those words that many people seldom look behind is "education." But education can cover anything from courses on nuclear physics to courses on baton twirling.
   
Unfortunately, an increasing proportion of American education, whether in the schools or in the colleges and universities, is closer to the baton twirling end of the spectrum than toward the nuclear physics end. Even reputable colleges are increasingly teaching things that students should have learned in high school.
   
We don't have a backlog of serious students trying to take serious courses. If you look at the fields in which American students specialize in colleges and universities, those fields are heavily weighted toward the soft end of the spectrum.
   
When it comes to postgraduate study in tough fields like math and science, you often find foreign students at American universities receiving more of such degrees than do Americans.
   
A recent headline in the Chronicle of Higher Education said: "Master's in English: Will Mow Lawns." It featured a man with that degree who has gone into the landscaping business because there is no great demand for people with Master's degrees in English.

Too many of the people coming out of even our most prestigious academic institutions graduate with neither the skills to be economically productive nor the intellectual development to make them discerning citizens and voters.

Higher education my ass

[JohnnyReb]

I hear d that talking to your plants and flowers make them grow/produce better....especially if you recite poetry.

Along that line...wonder if reciting Calpiggy poetry will kill the weeds and fire ants in my yard?

[Chris_]

Her poetry could kill kudzu.

[zeitgeist]

Her poetry could kill kudzu.

That's 5 worthy.   

Here in P_town North we seem to have a plethora of lawn service companies.  I mean lots of 'spensive 'quipment being towed around with hordes of folk mowing an mulching.  Boggles my mind.

And, IIRC, the junior senator's (Kelly Ayotte) hubby is in the lawn and snow plowing business too.   

[JohnnyReb]

That's 5 worthy.   

Here in P_town North we seem to have a plethora of lawn service companies.  I mean lots of 'spensive 'quipment being towed around with hordes of folk mowing an mulching.  Boggles my mind.

And, IIRC, the junior senator's (Kelly Ayotte) hubby is in the lawn and snow plowing business too.   

Same here.

If the middle class is starving to death due to the economic times, I guess it's important that your yard look good for the wake.

[NHSparky]

Good, maybe I could hire them.  I've been too busy working to do shit with my yard so far.