General Education Council responds to Bulletin Editorial, 3/13

Letter to the Editor (Monday, March 31)

We are responding to the recent Bulletin editorial concerning proposed changes to the general education program. If the new requirements are adopted history will NOT be eliminated. The editor worried that graduates of ESU would enter “classroom(s) across the country with a crippled understanding of history.” However, under the proposed program history remains a requirement for all education majors just as it has always been and is an option for all other students as well.

Under the current general education program students are required to select 6 credits (2 courses) of humanities, choosing from history, philosophy, and literature. While students must select a history course, they choose between a philosophy or literature course. This means that thousands of students have graduated from ESU without ever having taken either a literature or philosophy course. Does this worry the Bulletin? If not, why not? Who gets to say which academic disciplines are important and which are not? Many academic offerings from foundational disciplines are “options” under the requirements of all general education programs for colleges and universities from across the nation including Emporia State’s.

While the cartoon in Thursday’s Bulletin showed the disapproving faces of historical figures looking down on the General Education Council, to be consistent, a parallel cartoon should have been placed along side it. This cartoon would show the disapproving faces of literary giants, great philosophers, renowned artists, and leading social, behavioral and political scientists looking down with the same disapproval because the current program lists the courses in their academic disciplines as options, not requirements.

Given that the program must be limited in size, the best we can do is provide high quality courses and trust students and advisors to choose wisely. The Council seriously the results of an ASG sponsored student survey conducted two years ago which indicated that most ESU students wanted more general education course options. Consequently, the new proposal includes innovative new courses and established courses that have been redesigned. It provides students with more options while upholding high academic standards. We urge students to give it serious consideration.

Gary Wyatt, Steve Neill, Paul Bland, Kevin Johnson, Jonathan Rivers, Barbara Bleeke, Gary Bleeker

Members of the General Education Council

7 Responses to "General Education Council responds to Bulletin Editorial, 3/13"


Education
March 30, 2008 9:23 pm
I like how only a few members of the Council signed the letter. Shows that not everyone agrees with those with an agenda. You would think that a education professor of all people would recognize the need for history. I am ashamed in you Bland.
Historian in training
March 30, 2008 9:31 pm
How can this university expect to survive if its graduates can leave the school without knowing basic history? While philosophy and literature are important subjects to study, it's important for students to have at least some background in historical events, both in this country and world-wide. Employers look for this kind of knowledge. By taking away history as a requirement, you are helping to ensure that ESU graduates are not fully equipped to enter the workforce.
Loosing Respect
March 31, 2008 9:43 pm
You know I thought Dr. Bleeker being the Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences would of all people realize this is a bad idea, but apparently not. I've lost a lot of respect for a man I used to admire.
Historian in training
March 31, 2008 9:51 pm
I suppose if it passes the university will have to do without donations from this alum. I'll just send my checks straight to Social Sciences.
Benjamin J. Howard
March 31, 2008 10:15 pm
While the proposed GE Program certainly has its merits, one could argue that the value of studying literature or philosophy is limited if a student cannot place great works or personages of either field in the proper historical context. History is a fundamental subject for providing a basis from which to launch into other study.
Listen to Yourselves
April 1, 2008 12:08 am
Pitching history against philosophy and literature in order to determine the most important of the three is exactly why students should not be asked to choose.

They are all equally important. History should not be removed as a general education requirement because it is incredibly important, but it is absolutely not more important than literature.
Gary Bleaker-Dean of Falsities
April 1, 2008 5:47 pm
I would like to put it out there that this was not a unanimous vote on the part of the Gen Ed. Council. As you can see, not all members of the Gen Ed Council signed this, and I know for a fact that not all members voted for it. STOP THE LIES BLEAKER.