Liberal Arts Education Is Not (Necessarily) a Waste of Time

Harvard history professor Jill LePore tells this story. She was hosting an event in her home for new students, promoting the university’s history and literature program. One of the students there was suddenly distracted by urgent text messages from her parents telling her, “Leave right now, get out of there, that is a house of pain.”

LePore’s tale exemplifies the attitude that many Americans now have with regard to liberal arts education—it’s a waste of time; a “house of pain.” Studying history, literature, philosophy or anything else that doesn’t have a clear occupational path is just throwing away years of school time and a great deal of money. Focus instead on practical subjects that might at least lead to a job after college.

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