1. Misconception #1 states that “A liberal-arts degree is a luxury that most families can no longer afford. “Career education” is what we now must focus on” (Ungar). Ungar would respond to this by saying students need to prepare for more than one job in the future, as the world changes every day. Kids need to be able to adapt to situations that may occur, which is what a liberal education allows for. This relates to how the UNE handbook does not talk about why liberal education is better than a career education. I know a handbook won’t straight out say that the education system is better than others, but they could mention why being ready for more than one career is important.
  2. English 110 is a good example of advancing students’ abilities of critical thinking. As Scheuer states, “The assimilation of facts, ideas, and conceptual frameworks, and the development of critical minds, are equal parts of a liberal education” (Scheuer). Liberal education is supposed to broaden the ability to think about different situations critically. In Eng 110, that’s exactly what is happening. We have to look at different topics and challenge one another ideas and discuss them. This allows students to have opinions on topics and discuss them in the future, particularly with a boss about a project they could be working on. As for being a better citizen, I would say Sociology would be a great example of enabling better citizens. “Students will thus acquire disciplinary knowledge, develop critical thinking skills, and expand their expressive capabilities, while they expand their understanding of their place in the world” (Core Handbook). As implied in the handbook, Sociology will develop students’ skills overall, which will enhance their citizenship once out of school.
  3. In our Handbook, there is a lot of discussion of how it will enhance critical thinking abilities. This is a concept that Ungar and Scheuer seem to believe in as well. “It [curriculum] asks them [students] to integrate and apply their acquired knowledge and skills to problems and decisions within their major and professions” (handbook). There are important classes that students take in their first two years that are applied to each individual major, to allow for analytical thinking. Ungar agreed that liberal educations have found to emphasize more developed thought. Ungar states that “An astounding 89 percent said they were looking for more emphasis on “the ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing,” and almost as many urged the development of better “critical thinking and analytical reasoning skills” (Ungar). Most employers are looking for students with liberal art backgrounds because they know what comes with a liberal education.