NYT: Arthur Brooks on His TESC Degree

[Jonathan Whatley]

Arthur C. Brooks is president of the American Enterprise Institute, a leading conservative think tank in Washington, and holds a TESC BA. His op-ed appears in The New York Times, in full at the link:

Most 10K-B.A. proposals rethink the costliest part of higher education — the traditional classroom teaching. Predictably, this means a reliance on online and distance-learning alternatives. And just as predictably, this has stimulated antibodies to unconventional modes of learning. Some critics see it as an invitation to charlatans and diploma mills. Even supporters often suggest that this is just an idea to give poor people marginally better life opportunities.

As Darryl Tippens, the provost of Pepperdine University, recently put it, “No PowerPoint presentation or elegant online lecture can make up for the surprise, the frisson, the spontaneous give-and-take of a spirited, open-ended dialogue with another person.” And what happens when you excise those frissons? In the words of the president of one university faculty association, “You’re going to be awarding degrees that are worthless to people.”

I disagree. I possess a 10K-B.A., which I got way back in 1994. And it was the most important intellectual and career move I ever made.

My Valuable, Cheap College Degree (Arthur C. Brooks, The New York Times, January 31, 2013)

[bldclot2]

Did you read the comment section in this article.

[IrishJohn]

Did you read the comment section in this article.

Yep, a lot of scared folks in academia as well as those who forked out a lot of money for their degrees that are squealing about others not having to follow their example. Pretty pathetic really. That Brooks is the head of a "right-wing group" like AEI is being played up by some, as if alternatives to traditional education are somehow a conservative conspiracy. Typical of the NY Times crowd I suppose. milelol:

I also noticed that the comments are now closed.

[rebel100]

I mentioned on the other board that two things struck me from the article:

1. His 10K degree was "life changing"...pretty darn cool when you think about it, using the power of the mind to literally change your experience on the earth.

2. He wound up with a tenure track at Syracuse U. that's just incredible.

There will be haters no matter what you do. I watched a student produced video the other day where Harvard students ridiculed Yale...I understand it's a rivalry thing and all but really? #1 hates #2 or #3? Silliness.

I will take an employee who figured out the scam and earned their degree without debt over the guy with the BA/BS and 100K in student loans...that is using your critical thinking skills.

[ryoder]

I thought business students learned about rate of return, ROI, and break-even analysis. If they truly understand the concept they will get the lowest cost and fastest to achieve business degree possible and get out there and make some money.

Excellent article. Freedom is an unstoppable force.

[luckystrike]

The article was forwarded to me by a friend. It's an inspiring story that needs more publicity.

But.....he paid too much. I got mine from TESC last year for $5100.

[IrishJohn]

The article was forwarded to me by a friend. It's an inspiring story that needs more publicity.

But.....he paid too much. I got mine from TESC last year for $5100.

Yes, he did. But reading the article that appears to be because he took mostly courses through other schools and transferred those credits to TESC. Still, $10k is a heckuva bargain compared to tuition rates today and not too shabby for back in 1994!