Having a liberal education helps people further cultural knowledge. From early on art has always been in homes and involved in everyday life. And in today’s world, it would be hard to do almost anything or be successful in any job without someone having a liberal education. Some people blow off the thought of having a liber education because typically, less money is involved..

In the book, “In Defense of a Liberal Education” the author Fareed Zakaria points out that President Obama boldly states that someone who works with skilled manufacturing or the trades makes a lot more money than they might with an art history degree (Zakaria 19).  This goes on to show that a liberal education is expensive yet you reap none of your harvest. You are not promised a six figure or more job. When receiving a liberal education you are more likely to become a teacher or someone who is not appreciated because of their own personal liberal education and therefore gets paid less. Most who receive liberal educations are then stuck with multiple student loans and a low paying incoming. 

Liberal education should be valued in a way that makes everyone feel like their job is important. It also should harvest a field of protection around those who receive it. People should not be worried about how they are going to make ends meet if they spend thousands on an education that, if they did everything the right way, should help them receive a great job. It is similar to investing in something then not prospering from it. lxbf�Vh*�V

            Most people think that a liberal education is an expensive luxury because most degrees in this area do not provide high incomes and they are more about the individual’s intellect and happiness rather than pay grade. A lot of students feel that earning a liberal education degree will be a complete waste of their time and will not have a job relating to their degree after graduation. Parents also worry that their children will not have as many opportunities to have jobs as they would if they got an education to be a doctor or a mechanic. 

            To many people a liberal education is nothing more than a waste of time and energy. People spend too much money on earning a degree in something they will never find a career in. A liberal education is just an expensive luxury. 

                Along with that, unless families have a large amount of money, and the cost of college does not matter to them, it is difficult for families to afford a liberal education. Thomas Edsall said that, “74 percent of students attending the most competitive colleges were raised in families in the top income quartile and only 3 percent come from families in the bottom quartile” (qtd Zakaria pg 114). Zakaria argues that MOOC’s will pressure colleges to contain costs and find ways to enhance productivity within their college. Education cannot be provided to people around the world due to costs, however, that does not mean that important aspects cannot be taught. 

Another good reason is because we are in the age of technology now, so it defeats the purpose of what a true liberal education is. More and more people are taking online classes and do not rely on professors to teach them one on one. In a classroom setting, a lot of universities cap their class size somewhere between 20 and 30 people. However, with an online class, there is no cap so they can have as many as they want, and it does not require as many teachers to do the work. According to Zakaria, “research has trumped teaching in most large universities” (Pg 63) and professors find it laborious for them to teach basic information that may be interesting for the students. Because they do that, it limits the openness of the students. If an online course was well structured it would use the big data to develop a student’s branches to tailor their strengths and weaknesses. 

While a business degree is still valuable in today’s job market, a masters in fine arts is equally desired. A liberal education provides a broad spectrum of educational opportunities; the range of skills gained with a liberal education is something that employers look for. This produces a vast field of opportunities for jobs, which allows for a multitude of options in career positions. The expenses invested in a liberal education can be later paid off through salaries.

In conclusion, we support Zakaria’s belief that a liberal education is just as important as a practical education. While liberal education is a significant investment, it can lead to many career opportunities. With a liberal education a person can gain a broad range of fundamental skills that are beneficial throughout life. 

 

                Therefore, liberal education can lead many people to the American dream of making money.  Fareed Zakaria states in his book Defense of Liberal Education “Mark Zuckerberg was a classic liberal arts student… and was a psychology major when he attended college.” (pg.82, Paragraph 3).  Describing the knowledge Zuckerberg accommodated from his arts major led him to developing a whole new world online, Facebook.  Zuckerberg achieved this by understanding the insides of technology, and in depth critical thinking.  

                Music takes a lot of time and money. It’s hard to get a label or contract that will get your name out there or to earn money. It’s also hard to find jobs or connections unless you’re in a major city like New York or Nashville. Teaching also takes a lot of time and money. You have to get two degrees in teaching and in the field that you’re teaching. Addition to this, jobs as a teacher do not pay as well. If you want more out of a liberal education, the more you have to put into it. Loans and debts start to stack on each other which leads to more debt. Adding to this, you’re also expected to pay back the loans you took out as soon as you’re out of college. Trying to find a job in liberal education right out of college is extremely hard. 

                In short, liberal education is worth it if you can afford it. It takes a lot of time and money to succeed.  It really just depends on who you are as a person and what you want to do in life.  If one wants to pursue a Liberal Education then they should be able to push through and figure something out for themselves.  It’s all about determination and getting what you want no matter what.  It may be an Expensive Luxury…