In class, my group discussed Our English Syllabus with relation to its implications for studying at Calvin. For our discussion, my group observed several points that suggest change for Calvin. The first of these observations was directed toward Calvin’s Liberal Arts emphasis. This style of education gives students the responsibility of learning about many subjects that they do not choose. These subjects include biology, calculus, and philosophy. I assume, the point of this liberal arts program is to form a well-rounded student. C. S. Lewis argues that the imperative learning of each student must come from desire, not responsibility (or duty). This stance means that if a student wants to become a Economics major, he should not have to take several hours of science, philosophy and other courses that will obviously never be applied.
However, Lewis also understands that focusing on one subject by excluding all others from study is equally harmful. Thus, he suggests that we enter our academic lives as sponges. Be ready to absorb anything, with an attitude of humility and excitement. Also, he implies that take some “core” classes are beneficial if they coincide with the major chosen. For example, a Religion major should take one science and one math, and take many philosophy, history, and language courses. This in turn, will give the student tools that will encourage and deepen his understanding of the subject. The key point is that Calvin has over emphasized the Liberal Arts education into a circus of requirements and useless education.
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I indeed agree. I think that the Liberal Arts should differ and specialize with the major chosen. It feels like, to me, that we all suffer because some of us don't know what major to take.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the statement that core is necessary to fully understand a person's chosen major. However, their should be more freedom with the core, and individualized core sections for each major. A chemistry student for instance would need a wider base in the science and mathmatiks in order to find which specific area of study he is most intrested in while a history major would require more art, philosophy and history and need fewer science core classes. I am in support of more but more inclusive set of core classes.
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