They must be encouraged to get a well-rounded education. In the last five years or so we have witnessed a revolution in students attitudes toward higher education. To put it very simply, students are listening to their parents. For members of a generation that repeatedly was enjoined not to trust anyone over 30, the importance of this development cannot be over-stressed. Parents always have offered their high school and college-age children advice, but students are now actually taking that advice, and this is influencing the configuration of the university.
Parents now have a strong voice in the character and delivery of education.
Along with this increased participation in higher education comes a serious responsibility. If our daughters and sons are going to take our advice, it needs to be good advice and this is where I see a major problem developing. Many parents have recommended the narrow pursuit of a career to their children at least this is what students are telling me and have discouraged and even prohibited them from studying subjects that lie outside what they perceive as career training. Get a job. That s my message too, but I see things somewhat differently.