Mindless devotion to research? Negative comments about research in universities usually come from the people who never do it! These same folks usually forget that "research" is a teaching tool as well. I have had countless undergrads working in my labs over the entire course of my 4 decades long career. The students have learned how to problem solve not just in my area of specialization, but also to learn the skills that will help them throughout their career once they graduate. it's been a source of satisfaction for all concerned. Maybe a lot of university research is wool-gathering, but who can tell in the future, whether it might have some benefit or payoff? I worked at a very small university in N.England for 22 years, had a full-course load and still did research as a part of my mission. If the universities are not generating new knowledge to inform those who just want to teach...what will they have to teach? Are we to return to the Middle Ages or something along those lines? Just learn about the past? Who decides anyway? I agree that there are a lot of things that need to be fixed, but slamming research without understanding a lot about the process and the value of it, is not such a great idea. Maybe Dr. Bauerlein needs to do some solid research into the issue, before spouting off.
Donald Steinof GA1:06PM August 11, 2010
For the past twenty years, most of our Ivy League universitites are teaching our youth how to be greedy, how to make money, how to be unethical, but, not how to serve their patients, clients or constituency. If you see a doctor today, you are lucky if you get all of 2 minutes of his time when he cuts you short, what happened to his oath as a physician?? Lawyers are too busy billing but not defending their clients to the best of their ability, as they are supposed to. All priority is in how to make money, how to screw Mr. John Doe, and NOT at all on scruples, morals, or just plain being honest. The proof of that is the past eight years when Congress allowed Wall Street to drive this nation to the brink of disaster and to screw the hard-working, honest but screwed middle-class Americans. Members of Congress and the parasites on Wall Street are going into a great future while the rest of the nation is barely hanging on, with no jobs, no homes, no pensions, lost savings.....and many losing hope. Thanks to the great universities of unethical teachings.......
Ann Gearyof IA12:42PM August 11, 2010
Paula is right about the majority of schools focusing on teaching, not on research but in the field of language and literature, according to the Modern Language Association, we now have some 700+ departments that do emphasize research over teaching--not an insignificant portion of the terrain overall.
Mark Bauerleinof GA10:06PM August 10, 2010
This isnt a picture of "the higher education world." You are generalizing from the example of a very few research-intensive universities. How many of the 4000+ colleges in the US offer two-course-per semester teaching schedules for faculty, and what percentage of faculty members went into the profession for the sake of research rather than teaching? A very few elite colleges and professors fit the description you give here. The vast majority of teaching in the US at the post-secondary level is done at community colleges and regional comprehensive schools. Please don't characterize higher education as if it all occurred at Research 1 universities.
I agree with you that more transparency is needed, and
I will leave to others the job of defending research, which I believe is an essential aspect of higher education.) Thanks.
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Donald Stein of GA 1:06PM August 11, 2010
Ann Geary of IA 12:42PM August 11, 2010
Mark Bauerlein of GA 10:06PM August 10, 2010
Paula Krebs of MA 5:31PM August 10, 2010