The Oldest Of The Arts

The Oldest Of The Arts And The Youngest Of The Professions.

Critics Of American Colleges Typically Attribute The Failings Of Undergraduate Education To A Tendency On The Part Of Professors To Neglect Their Teaching To Concentrate On Research. In Fact, The Evidence Does Not Support This Thesis, Except Perhaps In Major Research Universities.

An Educated Man Must Have A "curiosity In Exploring The Unfamiliar And Unexpected, An Open-mindedness In Entertaining Opposing Points Of View, Tolerance For The Ambiguity That Surrounds So Many Important Issues, And A Willingness To Make The Best Decisions He Can In The Face Of Uncertainty And Doubt".

Although Professors Regard Improving Critical Thinking As The Most Important Goal Of College, Tests Reveal That Seniors Who Began Their Studies With Average Critical Thinking Skills Have Progressed Only From The 50th Percentile Of Entering Freshmen To About The 69th Percentile.

I Think Any Self-respecting Educational Institution Ought To Judge Its Policies By Its Best Estimate Of What Their Long-term Consequences For Their Students And For The Society Will Be.