new church life: march / april 2014
In the most general terms, liberal arts study means broad exposure to
a variety of disciplines and skills, rather than specific vocational training.
This form of study educates the whole person for lifelong learning and civic
contribution. More specifically, the term liberal arts comes from Latin “liber,”
or “free.” It was the education for the privileged who were not tied to manual
labor but free to pursue the life of the mind.
Over time, liberal arts education stopped applying to an elite class.
Quite the opposite. This education has become a most powerful American
concept and tool for freeing all students, regardless of class or background,
into a more fully educated, developed, human self, that can act responsibly
and productively in a democratic society. Liberal arts study develops citizens
who can keep up with the changes of society and workplaces, while carrying
forward the knowledge, values and culture on which society is built.
The American Dream relies on education and the belief that education
builds opportunity and a better or happier future for our children. (Originally
a better future, or the pursuit of happiness, was not narrowly defined as
earning capacity, or what one could get. What mattered instead was what
one could give. What mattered was one’s capacity to contribute to the greater
good, to be moral, productive, engaged citizens who know and do the right
thing.)
The first college in what would become the United States opened its doors
in 1638: Harvard. It boasted a handful of students, a cow yard, and 400 books.
Not to oversimplify the past, Harvard had significant governance issues from
the beginning. Within a year of opening, Nathaniel Eaton, President, was
charged with assault for beating a tutor. Mrs. Eaton was accused of serving
too little beer and adulterating the students’ food. The Eatons fled the scene,
with most of the endowment. Harvard had to close for a full academic year.
From those humble beginnings higher education in America has grown
to 4,400 institutions serving 20 million students. These 4,400 institutions fall
into five categories:
1. Prestigious Research Institutions (200, or about 5% of the institutions).
These are the Yales, Princetons, Cornells, Stanfords, etc.
Highly competitive
Have the largest budgets, biggest endowments, and most federal money
for research.
2. Comprehensive or “Metropolitan” Universities (700)
Mostly public, large enrollment, not highly selective
Evolved from technical schools and teaching colleges
Have added a lot of vocational degrees
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