Thursday, March 23, 2006

A College Miseducation

Pieter J. Friedrich wrote an interesting piece about his college experience, entitled A College Miseducation. He gives examples of misinformation he was taught in college courses.

Mr. Friedrich is a 20 year old homeschool graduate and about to begin active duty in the US Air Force. I admit that I didn't know all the historical fact he sited. I, of course, come from a public school background. My oldest is only 11 years old, so I haven't covered all the history yet. Every historical fact in this article that I did know, I had learned in the last 3 years of homeschooling my children.

Here's one of my favorite quotes from the article:
"If you must get a college degree, do so for the benefit it can have on your career. Don't attend college to get an education."

This got me thinking about my own college experience. It was not quite as bad as the example Mr. Friedrich used. However, it is possible that my experience really was that bad and that I just didn't know how much misinformation I was given.

I had a recent conversation with a college professor about a class she was teaching. It became very clear that she didn't understand the subject she was attempting to teach. The course was merely the vehicle to promote her world view. I wondered how many students left her classroom more ignorant than when they entered it.

People often ask us how long we will homeschool. Our reply has been "until college." We are rethinking that one.

Pieter Friedrich also has a blog entitled Pumpkin Head.

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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, teaching, college,

5 comments:

Henry Cate said...

"probably can take care of that at home for a fraction of the cost:)"

Especially as that costs keeps climbing faster than inflation.

Anonymous said...

Granted that my Thomas is only 5, and that a lot can happen in 12 years. BUT I have been having serious concerns about college for him, myself. Actually, I think I am going to go blog about that so I can find out what I think. No need to clutter up your comments section!
Thanks for the "spur" though!
Karen

Carmon Friedrich said...

Thanks for mentioning Pieter's article, Janine. You might be interested to know that our oldest son, Hans, only attended college briefly, but he has started his own software development company (like my husband) while working as a web designer for another company. One of his applications was featured by Steve Jobs last year at a developer's conference, and it was listed as a "favorite" on Apple's home page for several weeks.

The point about the cost of college is a good one, too, Henry. The brick and mortar institutions of higher learning are beginning to feel the effects of the information revolution, and the internet is already changing the nature of education. People are realizing that they may be able to obtain the information and credentials in a fraction of the time at a fraction of the cost. When enough people realize it, then alternative methods will become more accepted and the days of "going away to college" may be numbered.

Anonymous said...

News for you - You CAN get a phenomenal education at college, but you must choose that college Very Carefully - check out Thomas Aquinas College's Founding Statement.

http://www.thomasaquinas.edu/about/bluebook/index.htm

Our son is there now and I know he is receiving an Education!

Hanley Family said...

All I learned in college is the limits of caffeine and sugar in late night cramming. I also learned that THE place to be during finals week is either Dunkin' Donuts or Kinko's. Oh, and that the library was NOT the place to be...too many sexual assaults in Wescoe stacks. Unfortunately, all the books I needed for my major (Germanic Languages and Literature) were located down there.

I guess I could draw life lessons in walking that line between wanting "the grade" and not compromising personally held convictions. I guess I learned that if you wanted to disagree with your prof, you needed to have the best paper with the most research and have perfect attendance. There was no room for sloppiness.

As to whether or not my children will attend? It will likely be up to them and what career path they choose. I trust my job will be done by then and if they are unable to make a wise decision in college or stand the pressures in a LA school, then they I will have failed them.

I guess part of me feels that by 18-20, they should be ready to leave the immediate protection of the family and begtin making an impact in their culture. College is a good start...nice protected fortress of liberalism, yet home to mom and dad every evening to discuss and ground themselves. Seems like an ideal situation.