In 1971 more U.S. graduates earned bachelor’s degrees in the social sciences than in the business categories. Between 1972 and 1985, while degrees in English dropped by 54% and history diplomas by 63% and sociology degrees by 61%, business degrees jumped upward by 92%.
In 1969 82% of incoming freshmen said it was very important to “develop a meaningful philosophy of life.” By 1985 that had dropped to 42%. During that same time period incoming students who thought it was important to be “very well-off financially” jumped from 40% to 71%.
When I was in college a common philosophy of life was “weed will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no weed.” It might not be a great philosophy, but it beats the kind of money-grubbing automatons who came later.
The statistics are from Will Bunch, After the Ivory Tower Falls. (N.Y.: HarperCollins, 2022), pp. 97-98.
I always thought the purpose of college was to teach you to think rationally.
ReplyDeleteSo that explains why the worship of money is so rampant and will it ever turn back?
ReplyDeleteTo David: That was in the past. Now it is considered more of a preparation for jobs. Just ask DeSantis.
ReplyDeleteTo Carol: Not in our lifetimes.
To David: That was in the past. Now it is considered more of a preparation for jobs. Just ask DeSantis.
ReplyDeleteTo Carol: Not in our lifetimes.