The Death and Resurrection of Liberal Arts

I found the reading by Norman Jones to be interesting because we attend a liberal arts institution in Ursinus College. I believe that a liberal arts education is more valuable than the education given by a “careerist” institution. The overall focus on educating as a whole rather than educating towards a specific end goal. The liberal arts education allows students to explore more careers and fields. If I had not attended a liberal arts institution I would not have discovered my love for anthropology. It is also beneficial in a career to have even the slightest background in all fields of study. I am a firm believer in all knowledge is good knowledge whether or not it is applicable to your career path. The quote that really stuck with me throughout the reading was about how the purpose of higher education is “broadening and deepening the character of the men (mostly) who went through it”. I think this is a very valuable quote in the defense of the liberal arts. College is a time to get away from your parents and hometown and start to question all the “truths” that you have always believed. A person might come away from school holding those same beliefs, but those beliefs must be tested. Growing up in a very rural area of Central Pennsylvania I grew up with basically the same beliefs as everyone around me. I unlike many others was given the privilege to go away to college. This has allowed me to “deepen my character” as the passage said. My few friends that were also lucky enough to attend college went to the nearby Penn State. Penn State is a respectable school, but it is very careerist driven school. The people that I know that attend Penn State have not been able to academically explore like I have, and I believe that I am better for that experience.