Well this raises the question of the purpose of a college education--is it about learning for it's own sake and training in true professions--law, medicine and teaching come to mind--or is it just to be white collar vocational school?
IMO, colleges are not vocational technical schools.
I think that vocational technical schools are great. I think that being a plumber, electrician, etc. are honorable jobs, and many young people would do well to pursue such vocations.
At the same time, I think that education in the basics (e.g., mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, etc.) can prepare a person to subsequently learn the specific knowledge needed for a job role. IME, most job-specific knowledge and skills are learned on-the-job, not in a school.
And, I believe that colleges (particularly liberal arts colleges) are about preparing people to lead a rich life – not just about preparing for a job. I think that courses in music appreciation, art, literature, philosophy, history, etc. are worthwhile for someone who has the inclination and funds to seek a broad education. IME, it can be enjoyable to have a conversation with a musician or philosopher, as well as an electrician. Clearly a person doesn’t need a college degree to be well educated – or to be an interesting person – but for many people a college education can help them broaden their perspective on life, as well as learning basic skills.
I worked my way through college, and earned a degree in mathematics, with a minor in philosophy. I’ve suffered my share of injustices, indignities, etc. during my work career (including being laid off twice during the “great recession”), but I persevered and eventually retired. I believe that my training in mathematics and critical thinking helped me to handle countless challenges during my work career – even though I seldom applied specific knowledge that I learned at university. For example, I never applied calculus during my work career – but when PCs were introduced I was able to quickly master spreadsheets, which proved to be an extremely useful skill in business, and in planning my personal investments (which equipped me to retire). Training in logic helped prepare me to write the technical content of IT contracts (without which many technicians wouldn’t have work). And, believe it or not, concepts from philosophy (such as
reductio ad absurdum) proved to be useful in business.
What does this have to do with audio karma? Don’t we need people who can design new types of circuits, in addition to people who are electronic repair technicians? And, isn’t our hobby largely about the art - i.e., the music? Isn’t the market for hi-fi equipment (and associated professional services) larger because consumers appreciate many different types of music, and doesn’t an education in humanities help people to appreciate different forms of art? I like classical music and opera, and listening in my home via vintage tube amps, and as a result I’ve spent a lot of money paying for the services of hi-fi technicians. I’ve also helped musicians and artists make a living, by being a patron of the arts (i.e., attending symphonies and opera, and buying original artwork).
It benefits us all for young people to have a broad education. We gain a new generation of customers for our products and services. We gain a new generation of people who have the skills to bring useful new products and services to a complex global marketplace. And, we gain a new generation of people to have interesting conversations with. And, in our declining years, we have a new generation of well-educated people to “take the reins”.
I hope my nieces and nephews want to inherit my hi-fi stuff (and my brown furniture). If not,
c’est la vie. At least at some point in their life they’ve each sat on a leather sofa and listened to classical music and opera played on a tube amp (and my goal is for them all to attend a live classical performance), and I am hopeful that has broadened their perspective on life.
