Its moment of connection past, however, the high-minded thought may be revealed for an unsatisfying response. Education is the object of perpetual dissatisfaction in America. One or another component of it basic, post-secondary, advanced is always the target of someone's complaint. And yet, on the whole, the population seems tolerably well educated to function as citizens in a democracy, though too many choose not to accept the responsibilities of citizenship. Folks are less inclined to take an interest in the running of the country when they think it s running well enough.
Troubled times catch the attention.
In fact, there is cause to worry about the state of liberal education today. What most threaten its survival in American colleges and universities, Ryan writes, are business studies and vocational education. Conversely, business degrees had been only a third as numerous as degrees in the arts and sciences, and are now equally numerous. In other words, there are now as many undergraduate degrees given in business as in all the arts and sciences. If the trend continues, liberal education will recede into a corner out of the way and unnoticed.