> Marion Brady wrote
> > I'd write off at
> >least 75% of what's taught in general, non-technical education as "ritual
> >knowledge,"
>
> While I agree that a large part of advanced degrees is ritual in nature, I
> found both of my advanced degrees helpful. The first, an engineering
> degree, reset my mental attitude to seeking for fact among opinion. The
> second degree did not teach me anything I did not know, but it placed the
> knowledge into a useful structure from which I could note similar patterns
> in new areas of experience.
>
> Place a time limit on degrees. I think not. If you have a degree and a
> commensurate job, then you will continue to learn. Your method will be
> learning by doing.
The point of the exercise was not to defend your opinion but to
explore all sides of the issue using lateral thinking....I agree that
everyone likely holds a point of view on this subject, but they should
be mature and capable enough in their thinking to explore all sides of
the issue..get into someone elses shoes, so to speak.
>
> What value is added by expiring degrees? After 20 years in business I
> know of no company that hires anyone, except new graduates, on their
> academic performance or discipline. After gaining experience and having
> success in work the degree is rather not relevant.
You are absolutely right but,
One very significant value (among several) is that it would form a
very small perceptual shift in the mind of the degree-holder.
A degree with one date on it is viewed totally different then a
degree with two dates on it. If a client came into my office and saw
my degree hanging up on the wall, I would want to show that I have
taken courses, workshops etc to keep my knowledge current, regardless
of the field. Since most people do that anyway, they would now get a
visible credit/reward for it, such as a seal that could be attached to
your degree the way Doctors do when they renew memberships in
professional associations
> If I want to change my work discipline from, say electronic engineering,
> to health care provider a degree program would probably be needed.
>
> bhobler@cpcug.org ( William J. Hobler, Jr.) Bill
Walter Derzko (wderzko@epas.utoronto.ca)
Walter teaches a course on creative thinking skills at Conestoga College
--Walter Derzko <wderzko@epas.utoronto.ca>
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>