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From: jmm@thoth20.berkeley.edu
Newsgroups: comp.software-eng,misc.jobs.misc
Subject: Re: American Programmer (What's a Ph.D. worth?)
Message-ID: <8295@agate.BERKELEY.EDU>
Date: 4 Apr 88 01:17:32 GMT
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(Disclaimer:  I'm not any variety of engineering major, nor have I much
experience in the world of business.)

I always thought that universities were supposed to teach theory more than
practice.  There are going to be lots of different types of systems out there
in the 'real world,' and if your educational background only prepares you
to use one of them then it doesn't do you much good.  If your education
teaches you the general way that systems are built, why they're built that
way, and leads you to think about new ways they could be designed, 
then your chosen place
of employment can teach you the specific way it's implemented.

Universities should not be expected to teach people the uses of any particular
set of tools.  That's what vocational schools are for.

/ James Moore		/    	|  jmm@bartleby.berkeley.edu
/ 			/	|--------------------------------------------|
/ Ma ta Gaeilge agut,	/	|   Nil aon speis ag Ollscoile na	     |
/ scriobh i!		/	|   California im bharulacha fein.           |