Education, and I regret to say this as an educator, but there's no indication that education has a direct effect on happiness. Derek Bok More Quotes by Derek Bok More Quotes From Derek Bok I think the minority students that we admit to Harvard are every bit as meritorious as the white students that we admit. Derek Bok minorities white thinking As countries embrace mass higher education, the cost of maintaining universities increases dramatically relative to an elite system. Derek Bok maintaining cost country I won't say there aren't any Harvard graduates who have never asserted a superior attitude. But they have done so to our great embarrassment and in no way represent the Harvard I know. Derek Bok done attitude way Doctoral training is devoted almost entirely to learning to do research, even though most Ph.Ds who enter academic life spend far more time teaching than they do conducting experiments or writing books. Derek Bok teaching writing book Ever since economists revealed how much universities contribute to economic growth, politicians have paid close attention to higher education. Derek Bok growth politician attention For some students, especially in the sciences, the knowledge gained in college may be directly relevant to graduate study. For almost all students, a liberal arts education works in subtle ways to create a web of knowledge that will illumine problems and enlighten judgment on innumerable occasions in later life. Derek Bok college may art The college that takes students with modest entering abilities and improves their abilities substantially contributes more than the school that takes very bright students and helps them develop only modestly. Derek Bok entering college school Universities are institutions run by amateurs to train professionals. Derek Bok institutions running school Early admission programs tend to advantage the advantaged. Derek Bok admission program advantage Fewer than half of all university professors publish as much as one article per year. Derek Bok university-professors half years Despite the hours spent debating different models of general education, the choices faculties make rarely lead to any significant difference in the cognitive development of undergraduates. Derek Bok differences different choices Critics of American colleges typically attribute the failings of undergraduate education to a tendency on the part of professors to neglect their teaching to concentrate on research. In fact, the evidence does not support this thesis, except perhaps in major research universities. Derek Bok support college teaching Colleges and universities, for all the benefits they bring, accomplish far less for their students than they should. Many students graduate without being able to write well enough to satisfy their employers... reason clearly or perform competently in analyzing complex, non-technical problems. Derek Bok benefits college writing Freshly minted Ph.Ds typically teach the way their favorite professors taught. Derek Bok professors taught way Economists who have studied the relationship between education and economic growth confirm what common sense suggests: The number of college degrees is not nearly as important as how well students develop cognitive skills, such as critical thinking and problem-solving ability. Derek Bok skills college thinking Teaching methods are often inadequate for the goals faculties are trying to achieve. Important courses such as expository writing and foreign languages are frequently taught by untrained graduate students and underpaid adjunct teachers. Derek Bok teachers goals important writing I don't regard the fact that there's a disparity in test scores nearly as importantly as I do the need for diversity, because I know from long experience that test scores, though useful, are a very limited measure of things that matter in choosing students. Derek Bok know diversity experience long What college is all about is some kind of 4-year game about who is going to end up with the highest grades. And I don't mean to say that academic achievement isn't important. But it is, after all, a means to an end. Derek Bok end game achievement college Once you start worrying about a national football championship, then you begin to worry about getting the quality of athlete, and the numbers needed, to win a national championship. And that worry leads to pressure to compromise academic standards to admit those athletes. Derek Bok win you quality football Most high governmental officials who speak of education policy seem to conceive of education in this light - as a way to ensure economic competitiveness and continued economic growth. I strongly disagree with this approach. Derek Bok growth light speak education