Colleges are designed to prepare an individual to be a productive, intelligent member of society .
The question is, whether or not students should be required to take classes that .
have nothing to do with their chosen careers. In the past, college students were interested in educating .
themselves and becoming a better person. Now it seems, students just want to snatch up a degree as .
soon as possible and begin making money. This is a nearsighted viewpoint because general education .
requirements teach critical thinking, gives people the chance to find themselves, and develops .
intellectual diversity.
Critical thinking is a necessary skill for people in positions of authority or influence. The ability .
to recognize mistakes and find ways to correct is what separates a manager from the general worker. .
Critical thinking will allow someone to find a way to make a good situation even better. If a person .
lacks critical thought, the person is less likely to be able to change themselves or their surroundings. .
Critical thinking is taught in college and perfected in everyday life. A higher form of thinking enables a .
higher form of life. .
A great number of college students change their majors, especially during the first two years of .
college. College is a great place to find yourself and the idea of where you want to go in life. If after .
three semesters in college, a student decides he wants to change his major, and he's only been taking .
classes for his major, he has just wasted a year and a half. Or if the student decides it's not worth the .
trouble and finishes college with a degree in the undesired field, he will spend the rest of his life in a job .
he hates. General education classes provide experimentation and a chance to change your mind .
without falling behind or wasting time and energy.
To say that classes in English, history, government, math, and science are useless is like saying .
