Today in class we got to talking about liberal arts and what they really mean. Various people attempted to answer the question but it wasn't until several people spoke that the real meaning of the term rose to the surface.
In the middle of the conversation I began thinking about my Leadership 101 class in which I am currently enrolled. On the second day of class we discussed a commencement speech given by a man named Andrew Abbott. His speech addressed the purpose of education and how often students at liberal arts schools get too caught up with the major and minoring business and forget why they are really there. Abbott discusses how there is no direct correlation between what you major in, and what you pursue in life. Plenty of doctors got their Bachelor's in sociology, anthropology, or even business. Abbott asks in the beginning of the speech, "what is the purpose of education?" and concludes by saying that education has no purpose, but instead education is the purpose.
Being at a liberal arts college is not about remembering every single fact, quote, or equation because quite frankly, a few years from now, we won't remember a thing. Being here is about developing our intellectuality in a way that would not be possible anywhere else. When you come to the University of Richmond, you are required to take a language, first year seminar, and gen-eds among other things. Although you may not be as interested in biology as they are sociology, it gives you a chance to explore and think in a way you may not be used to.
After everyone had pointed out the aims of liberal arts and education in general, it was clear to me that Abbott hit the nail on the head. We are here not to learn a specific trade or skill and use only one part of our brain, but to learn how to think, analyze, and interpret information in a way that is not only beneficial to us in the long run, but to society as a whole.
I definitely agree with you--Abbott had the right idea. There are so many people who get lost in the world of academia and don't realize that the point of college is the learning process, in all aspects.
ReplyDeleteI read the same article in Professor Kaufman's class! I really enjoyed the class. I hope you do too!
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how many people agree that an education is not necessarily about what content you learn, but rather the way you learn and communicate with people. I wrote a blog post about eliminating grades and what that would be like in the classroom. I wonder what Abbott would have to say about that? I'm guessing he would think it was a good idea for the same reason I gave-- students would be willing to take more risks and and actually invest themselves in what they see as important.