David Harvey "The End of Capitalism"

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

The fact remains that everyone can't be engineers.

I'm not saying they should. OTOH, it makes perfect sense to me that those getting an education or vocational training in furtherance of their career ambitions should study something for which there is a demand for workers. Unless I'm mistaken, a degree in Underwater Basket-weaving won't result in prospective employers beating a path to your door.

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by finnbow

I'm not saying they should. OTOH, it makes perfect sense to me that those getting an education or vocational training in furtherance of their career ambitions should study something for which there is a demand for workers. Unless I'm mistaken, a degree in Underwater Basket-weaving won't result in prospective employers beating a path to your door.

Have you polled those in possession of that degree. You might get a surprise.

John

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by Boreas

Have you polled those in possession of that degree. You might get a surprise.

John

No, but I've heard that a degree in Underwater Tennis Shoe Repair is also pretty worthless. Almost as worthless as one in art history.

[donquixote99]

That's all true only if you conceive of worth as economic worth, exclusively.

That's not to say I'm not all for education that is well-designed for vocational applicability, and for much better guidance and counseling along these lines. Vocational counseling of students is, for the most part, a very bad joke.

[Dondilion]

Additionally if too many people became engineers then...

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

That's all true only if you conceive of worth as economic worth, exclusively.

That's not to say I'm not all for education that is well-designed for vocational applicability, and for much better guidance and counseling along these lines. Vocational counseling of students is, for the most part, a very bad joke.

Seriously, I don't mean to rag on liberal arts education. All education is good.

OTOH, I have several friends' (very smart) kids who went to expensive private schools majoring in Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, Business, etc., do very well, and then, on a whim, change their majors to Psychology or History in their junior years and then complain when the only jobs they can find upon graduation are waitressing and bartending (after having spent $250K on a degree). Worse yet, they move back into their parents' erstwhile empty nests.

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by finnbow

No, but I've heard that a degree in Underwater Tennis Shoe Repair is also pretty worthless. Almost as worthless as one in art history.

Listen, what with climate change and all, these bathic disciplines could become extremely important.

John

[piece-itpete]

Originally Posted by JJIII

Some of them. I know a few.

JI, mentioning deserving poor is instant and total death. We must coddle all.

Originally Posted by finnbow

.. Underwater Basket-weaving ...

Originally Posted by finnbow

... Underwater Tennis Shoe Repair ...

ROTFLMAO! Learning a desirable skill it an option now if you haven't heard. Vocational skills for non professionals is a slur, because wrenching or sawing is a minimum wage job?

True though that a liberal arts degree and the 'right thinking' might get you a pension, meaning a government job.

Originally Posted by Dondilion

Additionally if too many people became engineers then...

Everything would be incredibly convenient and elegantly brilliant and totally devoid of soul?

An engineer would disagree about that too

Pete

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

...Learning a desirable skill it an option now if you haven't heard. Vocational skills for non professionals is a slur, because wrenching or sawing is a minimum wage job?...

It does suck here that all work is not afforded the same dignity and benefits. I was impressed by the German system whereby all work from department store clerk to plumber to lawyer are have their own career ladders, training, apprenticeships, etc. Then again, more is expected from every trade in terms of professionalism and competence.

It was amazing that at a department store, the floor personnel had undergone training/apprenticeships and fully understood their merchandise, from stitch count, to fabric to button material on every item of apparel. Everybody has health insurance and everybody, from the janitor to the CEO, has the same amount of vacation time.

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

Everything would be incredibly convenient and elegantly brilliant and totally devoid of soul?

An engineer would disagree about that too

Pete