Higher Education Observer

This rather simplistic article/listicle may have some wisdom: https://getpocket.com/explore/item/five-steps-to-become-a-better-writer?utm_source=pocket-newtab As obvious as it sounds, one cannot write better unless one writes A LOT. Too many people want to write the minimal amount. It is assumed that academics (or those who teach in college--not always exactly the same group) do write a great deal, publish a great deal, etc. Actually, most college instructors and professors don't write that much. We publish either because we have to to keep our positions; our positions are primarily about publishing; or we've found a way or angle that ensures we can get published.  Sometimes it's what the trends are, sometimes it's particular personal strengths. Getting an article or book chapter published is darned hard work, and most of us avoid it if we can. Most colleges are teaching institutions and don't expect the publishing to a high degree. Why do I say that? Because

I use this blog to share, mostly. Here's a neat article about the power of liberal arts in higher education.   https://gen.medium.com/my-semester-with-the-snowflakes-888285f0e662? I just taught a class to freshmen that was about the value of liberal arts. I'm sort of realizing that many of the other things that get taught in college are probably learnable on the job, whereas the liberal arts (arts and hard sciences) are not and require dedicated, focused time (assuming these subjects are taught correctly by people who know what they are doing). There are exceptions--some business courses--but we try to teach "people skills" in a vacuum. How does one teach business ethics without the liberal arts and history and other big subjects?