Teaching fewer things leads to a population that thinks less

Oh, to have existed in a period of time named the "Renaissance," a French word that means "rebirth." As explained by Brittanica, "it was primarily a time of the revival of Classical learning and wisdom after a long period of cultural decline and stagnation."

The recently enacted biennial budget crafted by the Indiana General Assembly is hostile toward learning in favor of stagnation. The Commission for Higher Education announced last week that six of the state's public universities are suspending or consolidating more than 400 academic degree programs to comply with the new budget.

"The cuts are intended to help students focus on more in-demand fields and to comply early with the new state budget, which now sets minimum enrollment and completion thresholds for all degree programs offered at public institutions," as reported by Casey Smith of the Indiana Capital Chronicle.

Absurdité. Sorry, that's another French word that means "nonsense."

Look at the list of programs on the chopping block. Some highlights include undergraduate foreign language programs at Indiana University; graduate programs in literature at Purdue; international business at Ball State; and graduate programs in history and political science at Indiana State.

These cuts aren't going to help students do anything. It is a decision to teach fewer things, to offer less to young Hoosiers, and importantly, it is a move toward "cultural decline and stagnation."

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Michael Leppert is an author, educator and a communication consultant in Indianapolis. He writes about government, politics and culture at MichaelLeppert.com.

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