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February 16, 2007 at 9:19 pm
As my older daughter makes her plans for college this fall, I see her and her friends, to varying degrees, falling prey to the fallacy that you need to decide on a career field and focus your studies as much as possible on things directly concerned with that field. Sometimes I feel like you can’t tell them anything. Look at all the things you’ve done in life, Frank… what percentage of them necessitated a history degree? And yet they all necessitated a good education.
February 17, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Of course you can’t tell them anything. Your their father.
But I’m certain that you have already done the important thing–taught them responsibility and integrity. The rest they’ll figure out on their own.
On to your question:
Frankly, my history studies have helped me a lot.
History as a discipline puts a high premium on being able to write persuasively and analytically–and all my jobs have involved writing. I’ve made my living with my pen since 1974.
Beyond that, I agree wholeheartedly with your larger point.
I have always thought that any college that demanded students to declare a major upon enrollment was–how shall I say this?–replete with waste products. How many 30-year-olds are doing what they thought they would be doing when they were 17?
I’ve known only one person like that–he entered college wanting to be an editor for the Washington Post and every move he made for the next 10 years was a step in that direction. He’s the guy who once introduced me to David Broder.
But most persons’ certainties are not so certain–I think college is the place to get a liberal education. Grad school is where to learn a trade.