[lit-ideas] Re: FL Gov. & Ed
- From: Robert Paul <rpaul@xxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:00:55 -0700
Julie Krueger wrotr
http://htpolitics.com/2011/10/10/rick-scott-wants-to-shift-university-funding-away-from-some-majors/
This sort of thing is not really all that new. Several state
legislatures (some at the prodding of governors) have tried to cut
funding for or eliminate departments whose
graduates do not 'contribute to the economy,' in favor of strengthening
their STEM programs (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
Some states have tried
to do away with departments like classics, philosophy, and the like at
most campuses of their university systems, on the grounds that those
who'd like to major in those fields
should go to to the branches where they're still taught. The assumption
that college freshmen know from the start what they'd like to major in
is, of course, ludicrous, but
the consolidation of 'unprofitable' majors is not; it's better to have
one or two good departments in a field than half a dozen mediocre ones.
http://www.insidehighered.com/layout/set/popup/news/2011/10/12/florida_governor_challenges_idea_of_non_stem_degrees
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/12/3977025/knocking-anthropology-govs-daughter.html
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Here's some information about where science and engineering PhDs come
from. (I think it's current up to 2008)
http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/infbrief/nsf08311/?govDel=USNSF_178%20-%20tab2
and some remarks from the Reed from the Reed Physics Department that
should but won't interest Rick Scott
http://academic.reed.edu/physics/history.html
together with an account from Inside Higher Ed
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/10/12/florida_governor_challenges_idea_of_non_stem_degrees
Robert Paul,
promoting an Old English requirement for kindergartens
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