Universities aim to be centers of learning that find the best and brightest students, treat them fairly, and equip them with the knowledge they need to lead better lives. But Jason Brennan and Phillip Magness join us today to show how American universities fall far short of this ideal. What is the purpose of college? What are academics getting out of university life? What do students want from their university experience? What is a wage premium? Are students actually learning skills they need? Do employers think that college graduates are lacking writing skills? What is wrong with student evaluations? What would it take to actually measure teacher effectiveness? How is tenure a barrier to entry to the academic field?Further Reading:Cracks in the Ivory Tower: The Moral Mess of Higher Education, written by Jason Brennan and Phillip Magness‘Cracks in the Ivory Tower’, written by Scott JaschikWhen All Else Fails: The Ethics of Resistance to State Injustice, written by Jason BrennanRelated Content:College: Too Costly, Too Little Learning, Too Much Underemployment, Free Thoughts PodcastCracks in the Ivory Tower: A Dispiriting Assessment of Higher Education, written by Aeon SkobleThe Education Apocalypse: How It Happened and How to Survive It, Free Thoughts Podcast

Universities aim to be centers of learning that find the best and brightest students, treat them fairly, and equip them with the knowledge they need to lead better lives. But Jason Brennan and Phillip Magness join us today to show how American universities fall far short of this ideal.

What is the purpose of college? What are academics getting out of university life? What do students want from their university experience? What is a wage premium? Are students actually learning skills they need? Do employers think that college graduates are lacking writing skills? What is wrong with student evaluations? What would it take to actually measure teacher effectiveness? How is tenure a barrier to entry to the academic field?

Further Reading:

Cracks in the Ivory Tower: The Moral Mess of Higher Education, written by Jason Brennan and Phillip Magness

‘Cracks in the Ivory Tower’, written by Scott Jaschik

When All Else Fails: The Ethics of Resistance to State Injustice, written by Jason Brennan

Related Content:

College: Too Costly, Too Little Learning, Too Much Underemployment, Free Thoughts Podcast

Cracks in the Ivory Tower: A Dispiriting Assessment of Higher Education, written by Aeon Skoble

The Education Apocalypse: How It Happened and How to Survive It, Free Thoughts Podcast

Books Referenced