reply to post by computerwiz32
I am taking accounting in college and so far all the course I took and have heard people that completed the course saying they don't teach you how to
run your own business but teach you how to do basic tasks like how to find a lawyer how do accounting but they teach you more towards to using
software they teach only what your job expects from you and nothing more they don't teach how to start your own accounting business.
I'd like to address the original OP's question, and address your concern also.
For those that haven't seen any of my posts, let me first start by saying that I spent most of my career in the business world, first working for a
large corporation, then running my own corporation, and finally teaching college for a decade. I will address the college/university environment,
since that was where I taught.
Education is not controlled at any level outside the college or university by any "secret" or diabolical group. It is controlled at the department
level, as far as individual courses are concerned. Core curriculum is decided at the school level for major core courses, and at the college level for
universal core courses.
For those not familiar, let me explain. Let's say you go to a college or university that has 15 to 20 schools (such as School of Engineering, School
of Liberal Arts, School of Business, etc). Each school decides, usually with a curriculum committee, how many credits are needed for each degree. For
instance, for a BS, the number of credits may run from 124 to 138 credits. Of those credits, some are probably college level core courses. For
example, the college or university may dictate that each bachelor degree candidate must take 20 credits of Liberal Arts, regardless of your major, and
8 credits of math. At the school level, the school may dictate an additional 4 credits of math, as an example. They CANNOT dictate less than the
college requires, but they can dictate more. At the department level (the school of Engineering, for instance, may have several different departments,
offering various degrees. They will probably dictate additional "major core" courses that each candidate must take for their degree. Some of those
courses may be specific courses that are required, while the student may choose from a list of other courses that fit the category. The final category
of courses are the elective courses.
That's the mechanics. Now let's look at what I think you're concerned with, whether there is some grand "conspiracy to indoctrinate the masses.
I can say categorically that there is not.
Here's why- If you get 15 members of a department together in a department meeting to discuss what courses a student must take, you will almost
always get 15 different and conflicting answers. Getting everyone to agree on courses is almost impossible. So here's what happens- huge compromises.
"I'll agree to your BUS301 course, if you agree to my BUS 325 course, etc.
Unfortunately, most professors are most concerned about making sure that their courses get off the ground, and draw enough students, so as not to get
canceled. (Not all, but many.)
Professors also are adamant about not letting others tell them what to do. At almost all colleges & universities, the administration has virtually no
say concerning what goes on within an individual classroom. (It's called academic freedom, and anyone attempting to violate that will run into major
problems)
Now to address your concern. I did EXACTLY what you mentioned other students said professors did not do, namely teach students how to set up their own
business. I went so far as to actually help them set up their own businesses, including giving them help in making sure that they stay on the right
side of legal and ethical matters. To this day, former students still call me, and I gladly give them help with their businesses. At least one group
of my students formed a corporation that now receives high six figure contracts for services.
Why and how could I do this? The answer is simple- I formed my own corporation, and did not have help, and I vowed that when I taught at the college
level, I would make sure that students had an opportunity that I did not have, namely getting off to a great start. My corporation was very
successful, but in the beginning, I made several mistakes, including "trusting" a client, providing them with services without a tight, written,
legal contract. The client then took my work, and never paid me. It was a hard lesson to learn, but my students benefited, because all of them were
given sample contracts by me, and believe me, they used them.
Now, why don't more professors teach that way?
The reason is simple. Most of them never started their own business, and probably never spent a single day in the business world. Many of the "pure
academics" (those with PhD's right out of college and into teaching) only have "book knowledge", no hands-on experience. I can tell you that books
only usually tell you what should happen, not what REALLY happens. There is no substitute for experience in the business world.
Anyway, I'm not very popular with the academics, but I can tell you that I was very well received by the students, because I did have the experience,
and was willing to share all of it with those students.
I can also tell you that at the college/university level, there is no grand conspiracy of NWO, Illuminati, or whatever some may suggest.