Search Results: education degree

For those who don't know general education in college are courses that aren't involved in the field you're trying to get a degree in such as arts, social sciences, etc. that you're required to get a certain amount of before you get your degree.

The point of it is to get a graduate a well-rounded education outside their specific field as well as let them try out other fields to see if they're making the right choice.

Personally I spent 2 years at a community college getting all of my general education out of the way before I went to my university, and it's really made me doubt general education. Half of my time at college, along with almost $20,000, has been spent learning about nutrition, sociology, and other unrelated things while I'm pursuing a degree in computer science. I'm starting to really wonder how right it is to force this on students when many can barely even afford to go to the university in the first place. I mean I'm fairly interested in nutrition, but doesn't it make more sense for me to just read up on it rather that paying for a professionally taught class? I'm not a nutritionist after all, so I don't know why I would need to pay time and money to professionally learn it.

What do you guys think about it?

I like this tale from Norse myth

Alvis the dwarf (His name means “All Wise”) was so proud of his great store of knowledge he let hubris get the better of him. Off he went to Asgard, aiming to win a wife from among the Aesir. Thor's daughter Thrud caught his eye, and apparently the know-it-all impressed her with his smooth talk. Reluctantly, the Gods agreed to this mismatched marriage.

But Thor was off bashing Jotuns, as he's so often called upon to do. He met Alvis on the road as he was returning, and was not pleased with the tale the dwarf told.

Alvis was still protected by the laws of hospitality; Thor's hammer couldn't help him here. And to simply forbid the marriage wouldn't prevent a future elopement. No, Thor would have to save his daughter from her impetuous infatuation, and without resorting to violence.

So Thor took a different tack. Perhaps he'd already sized up his daughter's suitor. Or maybe he decided to give the dwarf a chance to prove himself. Regardless, he asked Alvis why he, a God, should bestow his blessing on this betrothal.

Alvis was silent about his prowess and warlike deeds. He made no mention of wealth or family background. No, all he could offer was his education and erudite words. “Ask me anything,” was the essence of his speech. “I know everything!”

Thor agreed to these terms. Notice that Thor doesn't attempt to match knowledge with the dwarf. At that, he'd surely lose. But he knows the only thing he needs to know - that given the chance, Alvis would talk all night.

So Thor proceeded to ask questions, and the dwarf had all the answers, just as he'd promised. But clever Alvis would have been better served with a bit less wisdom and a mite more common sense. When daylight arrived with him still above ground, he had turned to stone - for such is the way of dwarves.

The real lesson here is likely to be lost. Be not deceived by degrees and proffered Ph. D.'s. Too many talkers are but educated fools, and arrogant to boot.