COLUMN: Penn State: The purpose of learning

From Peter Buck's, "Penn State U. 'Daily Collegian' From Peter Buck's, "Penn State U. 'Daily Collegian'STATE COLLEGE, Penn. (U-WIRE) -- Are you tired of general education credits? Are you exhausted by topics as seemingly unrelated as trigonometry, the history of music, anthropology and literature? Do you see these subjects as having no intrinsic value for your future? If you think these things, then you might not belong in college. In the world around us, there are new things happening all of the time. Only a broad understanding of history, science, mathematics, the arts and culture will allow you to effectively keep up with this fast-paced world. I don't pretend to believe that I or anyone else can be up on everything, but every little bit helps. Let's deal with some examples. 1. Let's just say that you are watching the news and something comes on about neutrinos. Do you know what they are? Up until recently it was thought they were subatomic particles with no mass. But that has all changed. What does this imply? What are the far-reaching effects of this discovery? Will this alter our view of the universe scientifically, philosophically and religiously? Take a class on physics or astronomy. 2. In the history of western art music, people like Claudio Monteverdi, Ludwig van Beethoven, Richard Wagner, Igor Stravinsky and Arnold Schoenberg have come along and stood the world of music up on its head. Why? What is it about their music that so changed the course of their art forever? Is there reason behind the dissonance of modern atonal music? Take a course in music history or theory and see what's happened. 3. Why does a painting work? What is it in the work of Klimt, Kandinsky or Raphael that makes the picture so interesting? Take an art history class. 4. Why do people believe that aliens have visited the earth? Are there similarities between aliens and demons? Do these similarities cross all cultures? Try a comparative literature class or a science fiction class. 5. What is post-modernism? Fascism? Socialism? Serialism? Impressionism? Neo-classicism? Romanticism? Solipsism? Atavism? Dadaism? All of these concepts are covered in vast array of classes available here. So how about it? Are you capable of rising to the challenges in the previous examples? If you aren't, then you are probably looking at this university as a road to a job. If that's the case, then I suggest you go to a trade school. The mission of a university is to educate broadly, not to teach a trade. We, and the world in which we live have been shaped by our history, so please use your general education credits wisely. They are all important in order to understand the wondrous and diverse world that exists beyond the gates and halls of this campus and the doors of your future career. Life is not a career, it is an adventure. Learn your way while you are here.