<p>Alright, now…I will start by quoting your first paragraph. I feel you may have misconstrued some of my points. Hopefully I can clarify.</p>
<p>“…if I was a chemistry major, and the university didn’t teach me any quantum mechanics at all, I’d feel cheated, because that’s an important part of chemistry. If they failed to teach me about Vermeer, I wouldn’t feel cheated, because I didn’t ask them to do that in the first place.” </p>
<p>I agree on both accounts. As a speculative chem major, you should and must be taught subject matter pertinent to the study of chemistry. Just as you mentioned, chemistry majors should not be required to study Vermeer. I too wouldn’t feel cheated if I never he existed. I therefore agree with you that indeed it is “up to the student to decide whether the university has failed to teach them what they want.” I would be ****ed too if I didn’t learn the one subject I wanted from a university</p>
<p>Chemistry majors will become versed in the field of chemistry. In addition, they shall learn other things. These “other things” will not take away from their chemistry studies: they can only benefit the individual.</p>
<p>Next I will quote your allegory and aim to fix any misinterpretation:</p>
<p>“‘Do you buy a dozen eggs and say "these eggs are nice, but they have FAILED because they didn’t provide me with chocolate bars.’ No, you bought eggs cuz you wanted eggs. Same goes for an education.”</p>
<p>I see what you are getting at. Those eggs represent the chemistry degree and those chocolate bars represents side material not applicable to chemisty. You are claiming that it is ridiculous to buy eggs and be furious that chocolate bars don’t come with it, right? To accompany this analogy, I will pressume to be the store owner.</p>
<p>"No no no, don’t you see? The chocolate bars come with the eggs: they are free - my treat! Here you go! Now do what you want with them!! Wait…you want to throw away perfectly good chocolate bars??? Ok ok ok, I know you came JUST for the eggs, but the chocolate bars are exquisite! They were made delicately with organic milk. The almonds were imported from an exotic location. And it was hand wrapped!! The bars are awfully expensive, and it would be a waste to throw them away. But if you want to throw those free chocolate bars away, I will let you because they are yours.</p>
<p>“These days, if I want to learn about Dostoevsky or Kubrick I can do so from home for a lot less money than tuition. And if I feel inclined, I can join discussion groups and clubs to further my education.”</p>
<p>Awesome! Continuing education! I approve.</p>
<p>“For those who want a <em>formal</em> education in such things, fine and dandy, don’t let me stop you. But A) why force it on anyone and B) why assume that they will never learn about literature or the arts or history or culture if they don’t do it in their early twenties in a college classroom?”</p>
<p>For the “A” question: To answer this question, I am inclined to cite sources to strengthen my arguement. However, I will not. This question is very basic and easily understood worded otherwise: “Why learn more than what I need?” Education is precious. Althought I love people, I have little faith people will continue to learn without someone to spurn them.</p>
<p>For the “B” question: (see answer to “A”) and because the government would rather see the general population (in college) studying other disciplines rather than hoping they do sometime in their life. And I have little faith a 40 year old man will want to start studying sociology or sartre. The earlier the exposure the better. People might actually change majors!!</p>
<p>If college only teaches what the person thinks they want and nothing else, people will never learn to quesiton themselves. An architect would continue his study and maybe miss his true calling as an editor. Or a would-be teacher might not have the chance to explore intro to the arts. People may be sure of themselves, but something better might be out there. They are just too unwilling and set in their ways to experiment.</p>
<p>“If you went to McDonald’s, asked for a Big Mac, and they forced you to buy the meal with it and you only wanted the sandwich, you’d feel like they were trying to extort money out of you, no matter how much that they were protesting that they merely wanted you to have a well-rounded meal.”</p>
<p>Again, Big Mac costs money (like always), and meal comes with it, free.</p>