General Education SUCKS!

What is the point of non-science majors taking science classes? I'm not interested in chemistry. I'll never apply this "knowledge." My lack of interest translates to a lack of effort (I didn't even buy the textbook…) which will likely translate to a C on my transcript. But what exactly does that C say about me? That I'll never be a chemist? Ok; I won't. That I did enough work to pass? Fine; I'll take that. What will that mean for my career goals? Um… Nothing.

The purpose of general education is to give the student a well-rounded education. In Tennessee State University's 2007-2009 Undergraduate Bulletin, it is stated that:

So my failure in chemistry is evidence of a lack of competency in the natural sciences. Hmmm… The things is… I've never had to discuss covalent bonds, ionic compounds, ions, cations, anions, etc. In fact, after high school chemistry, I never saw any of this again until the chemistry class I'm taking right now. Chemistry has no practical purpose in my life, therefore this class is wasting my time.

A general education program set up with useless classes is the reason students treat college like a game wherein the goal is the accumulation of points and credits instead of the acquisition of knowledge. I'm paying money for a good, valuable education. Chemistry doesn't seem to fit into that.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not anti general education. I can make a positive case for most general education courses. Though statistics and calculus is useless, knowing how to count is valuable. Advanced math course sharpen your simple math skills. I rarely use a calculator thanks to having taken all these math classes. Learning a foreign language can be profitable. Companies are always looking for bilingual employees. History is interesting (sometimes) and it provides a good context for understanding modern politics. Being able to communicate orally and in writing is vital. That's how people judge intelligence. Similarly, knowing "the classics" and studying art and music is how people can tell you have some education.

Please don't think I'm going easy on these subjects because I like them. My current history class is boring as hell. And I'm SO sick of Spanish I could vomit irregular -IR verbs. Math does soothe me, but I'm a bit of a nerd. And though I am an English major, I don't like reading Shakespeare any more than the next person. Rather… I can see a purpose in all of this, both as a student and as a future educator.

Why do I need science? How does biology, or chemistry, or astrology enhance my education? What's so essential about competencies in those areas? Chemistry will not help me teach English better. It won't help me litigate more effectively. It has no social purpose either. I don't discuss science. Ever. Not knowing won't invalidate my education. In fact, it has become the norm to joke about how poorly one does in science classes. So…. GOSH. WHY is this standing between me and my degree???

I'm not saying screw science. I'm saying that for a non-science major eight credit hours in the natural sciences is way too much. Perhaps instead of requiring two courses and two labs, the requirement should be one course and no lab. The opportunity and exposure is there. If a student wants to go further, s/he is welcome to major in some sort of science.

I feel like requiring me to sit through a chemistry lecture and a long ass chemistry lab in order to graduate is like saying everybody has to take the Modern Grammar class I'm in. It's not general enough to general education. At least not to me...