Big universities to become extinct within 18 years

[Chickengirl]

I've imagined recently an ideal arrangement for learning what we need to know.  Call it a school or university if you like, but there would be no degrees, only greater achievement.  Five major areas of study:

Food Production
Energy Production
Water Utilization and Conservation
Structural Engineering (using only natural materials)
Homeopathic Medicine

From small children to senior citizens may attend - free.  In fact, the goal would be to produce enough to not only sustain the facility, but by extension an entire community, with significant profit.

Teach a 3 year old how to grow tomatoes, next year, corn and cucumbers - etc.
Teach an 8 year old how to harness energy from the sun, the wind and running water.
Teach a 12 year old how to catch and purify water.
Teach an 18 year old how to build comfortable shelter.
Teach a 72 year old how to live to be 90, with reasonable bodily comfort.

"Lesson plans" would include a good deal of humanity and culture, but not objectively, rather through natural observation and anecdotes.

This sounds remarkably like a large part of our homeschooling plans 

[Hope@ZeroKelvin]

Look, not every kid should go to college.  Sorry, but some kids are better served by being plumbers or electricians or carpenters.  At least you get paid in CASH and your skills are always in demand.

In the long run, knowing which end of a hammer to use or how to actually sweep a floor may serve you a whole lot better than how to craft a CDO or a CDS.

Pity we spend our precious educational dollars in teaching kids about "social justice" or how 2 daddy penguins should raise a penguin chick.  Sheesh!

[ralfy]

"Bubble trouble"

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=407277