亚色影库app

In the News
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November 15, 2023

Stop Corporatizing My Students

By
Beth Ann Fennelly
Source
New York Times
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I have taught creative writing in Mississippi鈥檚 flagship university for over 20 years, and I鈥檝e witnessed a powerful outcome: students who master written and spoken communication can change the world.

Which is why the educational trend focusing on student outcomes is so alarming. In September, Mississippi鈥檚 state auditor, Shad White, published a report, 鈥.鈥 It notes that many students are likely to leave our state after completing their educations, presumably for more exciting opportunities elsewhere. Mr. White proposes tying educational investments to majors that dovetail with workplace needs in Mississippi.

He cited a Texas bill  that overhauls how the state funds its community colleges. Money for those colleges in Texas is now allotted based off  that prepare them for the work force. Mr. White said the Mississippi Legislature should create a study committee of work force experts to outline the most- and least-needed programs and design a university funding structure with the state鈥檚 work force and economy in mind.

It鈥檚 worth noting that nowhere in the eight-page report is educational value discussed in relation to anything other than money. I wonder what value he鈥檇 ascribe to John Keats鈥 .鈥

In social media posts, Mr. White also  like African American studies, gender studies and anthropology as 鈥渦seless degrees鈥 in 鈥済arbage fields.鈥 Instead, in the report, he recommends that students enter fields like construction management.

See how efficiently students in the poorest state are shunted toward the vocational: It鈥檚 not personal. It鈥檚 business. This, despite a  by the 亚色影库app that found that humanities majors are comparably likely to be satisfied with their jobs and employed in supervisory roles as graduates from other majors.

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Project

Humanities Indicators

Chairs
Norman Marshall Bradburn and Robert B. Townsend