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Politics : View from the Center and Left -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JohnM who wrote (51255)	3/1/2008 9:00:16 PM
From: epicure	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 543046

I took calculus and have never used it. I don't think calculus is something most people need. "Regular" people (non engineers) need to understand geometry and algebra, but for most people calculus is simply useless. Chemistry is good. Everyone should have some basic chem, and all students should have to take botany and zoology (imo). I think we could seriously reduce some of the bullcrap GE classes. I STILL remember my embarrassing imprisonment in 6 units of American Indian Studies. I worked really hard in the class, and attended every class- noting, as I did attend, that 1/4 of the class was routinely absent. The class GPA? A 4.0. I went to the dean and complained about that. I had to send my transcripts to Berkeley, and I said it was an embarrassment to have a class that big, lower division, with a 4.0 GPA. What a huge waste of time. I'm all for the liberal arts- but let's have some quality control.

To: JohnM who wrote (51255)	3/1/2008 9:09:45 PM
From: neolib	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 543046

I do agree with you 100% that it would be nice if undergrad engineering programs provided a more rounded education. My undergrad "rounding" was one intro to music class, and two in social sciences, besides the required two quarters of english writing, and IIRC, two quarters of physical ed. Wow, who could ask for anything more from four years of college?

To: JohnM who wrote (51255)	3/1/2008 9:20:46 PM
From: Bearcatbob	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 543046

Ah John - that was a good dissertation of your perspective. I find it very interesting - you have insight I do not have. Such insight is why I came here. There are clearly two competing needs. Everyone needs to know history and at least the skills of the language. I think that Micro and Macro economics should also be requirements. I was actually able to take those in Engineering Grad school as electives. Frankly, I was surprised at being able to do that. My engineering math skills made the courses easy - and enjoyable - I finally found some use for first and second derivatives. As an aside - you mentioned science for the non technical. In our engineering college we had our own organic chemistry teacher. The guy went on a sabbatical so we had a prof from the A&S department - he flat out told us we were the most prepared class he had ever had. My basic problem that I am trying to communicate is that the basic populace has no idea of what it takes to design and build something. I fear those are only examples of what they know nothing. As such the populace is gullible for politicians who promise change and energy independence by taxing taking oil company profits - say what? Heck - we have someone tonight saying we can cure GW in a few years - and that person claims to be an EE - say what? The key to a democracy is an educated populace. If we have money to spend it should be focused on education and not GW hysteria. It should be on health care - and not GW hysteria. I had three teachers for whom I have special places in my heart. The first was my Algebra 1 teacher. He changed my life and made me like math. The second was my high school American History teacher - she was a Ukrainian refugee who fled west when the Germans retreated - she shaped my politics. The third was my high school chemistry teacher - he gave me my profession. Bob