Pro Con General Education classes Pro: GE for everybody Con: Generally useless

SOFI MATZAGANIAN Campus Life Editor @dnovazski

Many college students are not aware of the significance that comes with taking general education courses. The transformation from a high school to college student is a big one, and many expect to immediately socialize themselves into a certain culture - a certain major.

General education classes are a great way for people to be refreshed on general topics upon entering college. Often, they are viewed as a waste of time in the eyes of college students; they look to take classes that serve as an interest and something relative to their chosen field of study.

Some students may not understand the significance of general education courses, which could also justify why there is an evident lack of interest. These classes are essential to students of all ages. Often, adults decide to continue their pursuit of educational success after an initial, unsuccessful attempt. Adults who go back to school face the challenge of forgetting knowledge obtained from general education classes taken in high school and their first attempt in college. There is no telling how long it may have been since these adults took a course in English and Math - essential courses that assist us in everyday life. Therefore, a refresher in these courses would serve as a benefit to the students who decide to go back to school.

Furthermore, general education classes can also benefit younger students. These courses teach students fundamental topics that can assist them in excelling in different areas.

In addition to this, these classes provide students general information in different fields of study. Extra information can help maximize one’s knowledge and give students a taste of what other fields have to offer in case one may decide to switch majors.

The Walden University website claims that general education classes are beneficial to students because they build a base of knowledge, enhance your communication skills, improve your critical thinking skills, and help you with your career.

General education courses also benefit students who have not decided on a major. Deciding on one field of study can be difficult for some students, and having these classes as exposure to different fields of study can help prompt them in one direction.

According to a Huffington Post article, reporter Chuck Cohn said, “College is intended to make students aware of as much as possible about the world they live in,”

General education courses are beneficial to students for a variety of reasons. They help students efficiently prepare for their major, and they clear the way for different avenues of learning not yet explored.

AMIR MALEKPOUR Reporter @roundupnews

There’s no question that the cost of living is rising. It’s not just the quinoa eating, kombucha drinking, Tesla riding parts of the United States; it’s everywhere!

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 1940, the median home value adjusted for inflation was at $30,600. By 2018, the median value had just risen over $200,000.

Home prices aren’t the only expense people my age have to worry about. The cost of higher education is also continually rising at a higher rate. According to the College Board’s “Trends in College Pricing 2017,” in 1988, the average tuition for a transfer student attending a private, nonprofit institution adjusted for inflation was $15,160. By 2017, it had risen to $34,740 - a 129 percent increase.

With a lack of competitive, liveable wages, rising healthcare and transportation costs add to the lack of technical skills that would inflate their chances of a decent paying job.

It’s easy to see how pessimistic prospective undergraduates get when they see the amount of general education classes they must take before they focus on their major. Instead of learning the traits they need to be successful in the field they desire,

Photographers: they must go through what feels like a repeat of high school. what Guided Pathways is and how it acts as a faster route to their educational destination. This can be done by setting up student success workshops that help demystify the program. Even during appointments with students counselors can help explain the advantages that come with having this program structure. Opening up the conversation to Guided Pathways will help students recognize the massive restructure that needs to happen to help them complete their educational goals more efficiently.

If you take the high school aesthetic each general education class carries and the extra cost of a class that carries little to no relevance to most majors, it’s not hard to see how it can feel like a waste of time and money.

In some cases, like my cousin Samir, that’s what happens. You’d just go straight out of high school and into a low-paying job. In most cases, you’d bury yourself in student debt. The U.S. alone is struggling with a collective $1.4 trillion in student loan debt, according to the College Board.

If I’d offer a suggestion, either abolish the concept of general education from higher education entirely and start improving the quality of education in secondary education. Also, instead of forcing students to take a class in quantitative statistics, have students take a mandatory life skills course. Students would be less pessimistic of taking general education classes if there were classes concerning budgeting, resume building, networking, or paying your taxes.

Letter from the Editor

As another semester starts, and more and more new faces find their way onto this campus, it seems apparent that Pierce is in the process of changing. While that is true every semester, Pierce truly seems to be in a state of flux right now.

With the appointment of Interim President Lawrence Buckley, there are changes at the top of administration. And since his is an interim position, that change could continue.

The Athletic department has four new head coaches this semester, and hundreds of new students are attending college for the first time.

But we’re still here. There may be new faces in the newsroom, but our commitment to bringing the news to the Pierce community remains. amalekpour.roundupnews@gmail.com

The truth is, we can’t really do it without all of you.

I encourage anyone who is reading this, if you have ideas for stories and topics that aren’t covered, if you know someone on campus who’s story needs to be told, or if you have any comments or followup to the stories you’ve read please let us know. There are two phone numbers and an email at the bottom left of this page. Give us a call or write us. Let us know. And I hope to hear from at least some of you this semester.

Advisers:

Jill Connelly

Jeff Favre Tracie Savage

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