The social stigma associated with vocational and trade schools needs to end, and the university "experience" is BS. I imagine a big opportunity to fill the social needs of young people that don't go to college (even beyond selling them alcohol). Businesses that do a good job of matching people socially (maybe IM sports teams not associated with universities) would go a long way to dispelling the idea that you have to pay $50k/year for the intangible college experience.
but a big part of the point of college is to perpetuate the class system.
so, uh, yeah. Trade school is great, if you just want to make money. but your earning power has little to do with your 'class' I think; in many ways, getting a degree that doesn't qualify you for a job is conspicuous consumption.
What could be more conspicuous than spending a hundred grand on "self actualization" - the only outward effect basically being more interesting at parties?
The outward effect of a liberal arts education is being a more knowledgeable citizen, better able to think about the world around you. I'd say that goes a bit beyond conversations over cocktails.
> The outward effect of a liberal arts education is being a more knowledgeable citizen, better able to think about the world around you.
be concrete. You are still speaking of internal changes; and I'm asking, "what does that mean?" - how does a person's behaviour improve after getting, say, an art history degree?
More knowledge means more neural connectivity, which means a greater level of creativity (as long as you also develop critical thought at the same pace.)
For art, you need creativity. People tell artists that "the best way to paint/write/draw/act/sculpt better is to go out and experience the world." Well, in the same way a degree in the sciences offers a good topical coverage of the knowledge the world has to offer, a liberal arts degree offers a pretty good topical coverage of the experiences the world has to offer, so you can decide what to dig into. They're useful from that perspective.
