Educated vs. Smart

[hatidua]

Street-smart and book-smart are two vastly different things. Chances are, if you know someone with a PhD in molecular biology or the like, they have a certain amount of intelligence in that field by the time they finish their dissertation. However, it does not preclude them from being all but unable to function in day to day life.

Specialists aren't always good generalists....but it happens now and then.

[pdr240]

I'm over the college years, both myself and kids ... sometimes kinda wish I had a degree because I might have made more money? Not sure about that, but the ol' trade school certificate has payed my bills adequately. Hate to say it but educating the (m)asses is no longer about education, maybe indoctrination ... don't know enough to say for sure, probably don't want to know. I do agree 'that kind of language' makes one appear stupid. No one has mentioned common sense or basic living skills - they don't teach that any longer!

[Chad4000]

Did they mean in Europe? The prof would be nearly correct. 9 out of every 10 germans killed were killed by Russians. Either way I agree educated doesn't mean smart.

World War 2 had more countries involved then just Germany. If he meant that, he didn't present it clearly enough that the class got it like that apparently. I dont think it's a stretch to say that even if the Russians killed more germans that Europe would still look differently had we not gotten involved over there and just kept it in the Pacific.

edit: didnt mean for that to sound harsh to flan, just as in the prof probably still doesnt know what he was talking about...

[TS12000]

The federal loan program and general way of thinking (think of Obama's everyone should go to college statement) have created a scenario where everyone can go to college and those institutions don't really give two shits if you make it through or not. Pay us for three semesters and then drop out? Better than paying us for no semesters right? And once the student body gets to critical mass (more people that shouldn't be there than should, which it already has) then the quality of education takes a steep nosedive so they can keep those people paying more for longer and everyone suffers the idiots that actually make it through that never would have had the standards been maintained correctly.

[Ronin13]

The federal loan program and general way of thinking (think of Obama's everyone should go to college statement) have created a scenario where everyone can go to college and those institutions don't really give two shits if you make it through or not. Pay us for three semesters and then drop out? Better than paying us for no semesters right? And once the student body gets to critical mass (more people that shouldn't be there than should, which it already has) then the quality of education takes a steep nosedive so they can keep those people paying more for longer and everyone suffers the idiots that actually make it through that never would have had the standards been maintained correctly.

Yep- we're on the track to devalue a degree. I'm seeing it now, the average job won't hire people without at least an associates. The Bachelor's degree is becoming the new HS diploma. But what is that degree worth? With degrees in such ridiculous topics as there are now, it would seem to me like that old phrase about things coming in Cracker Jack boxes is becoming more and more true.

[Irving]

Thank God for the back button.

[flan7211]

World War 2 had more countries involved then just Germany. If he meant that, he didn't present it clearly enough that the class got it like that apparently. I dont think it's a stretch to say that even if the Russians killed more germans that Europe would still look differently had we not gotten involved over there and just kept it in the Pacific.

edit: didnt mean for that to sound harsh to flan, just as in the prof probably still doesnt know what he was talking about...

Agree with you there!

[jackthewall81]

Yep- we're on the track to devalue a degree. I'm seeing it now, the average job won't hire people without at least an associates. The Bachelor's degree is becoming the new HS diploma. But what is that degree worth? With degrees in such ridiculous topics as there are now, it would seem to me like that old phrase about things coming in Cracker Jack boxes is becoming more and more true.

What ridiculous degrees do you speak of?

[TS12000]

Chicano Studies is one off the top of my head that I know is offered at Metro. I'm not saying there isn't value in that knowledge but come on wtf are you gonna do with that degree? Teach those courses and write books about it (or make coffee at Starbucks). One hand washing the other.

[Ronin13]

What ridiculous degrees do you speak of?

Some are older- but Art History, Latin, Dance, Parapsychology, Ufology, Surf Studies, and like I said before- Philosophy.