I think any self-respecting educational institution ought to judge its policies by its best estimate of what their long-term consequences for their students and for the society will be. Derek Bok More Quotes by Derek Bok More Quotes From Derek Bok If you think education is expensive, try ignorance. Derek Bok graduation inspirational funny Again and again, universities have put a low priority on the very programs and initiatives that are needed most to increase productivity and competitiveness, improve the quality of government, and overcome the problems of illiteracy, miseducation, and unemployment. Derek Bok priorities quality government There is far too much law for those who can afford it and far too little for those who cannot. Derek Bok too-much law littles Efforts to develop critical thinking falter in practice because too many professors still lecture to passive audiences instead of challenging students to apply what they have learned to new questions. Derek Bok effort practice thinking I think one thing that does cause unhappiness is protracted anxiety and worry. Derek Bok anxiety worry thinking If you think the cost of education is high, think about ignorance. Derek Bok cost ignorance thinking An educated man must have a "curiosity in exploring the unfamiliar and unexpected, an open-mindedness in entertaining opposing points of view, tolerance for the ambiguity that surrounds so many important issues, and a willingness to make the best decisions he can in the face of uncertainty and doubt". Derek Bok issues views men I suspect that no community will become humane and caring by restricting what its members can say. Derek Bok members community caring The most obvious purpose of college education is to help students acquire information and knowledge by acquainting them with facts, theories, generalizations, principles, and the like. This purpose scarcely requires justification. Derek Bok purpose principles college Education, and I regret to say this as an educator, but there's no indication that education has a direct effect on happiness. Derek Bok educator direct-effect regret I don't think the alternative to Yale is jail by any means. On the other hand, there is a mass of research that does show that there are real advantages to your subsequent career in going to selective institutions. Derek Bok real mean thinking The oldest of the arts and the youngest of the professions. Derek Bok profession art Although professors regard improving critical thinking as the most important goal of college, tests reveal that seniors who began their studies with average critical thinking skills have progressed only from the 50th percentile of entering freshmen to about the 69th percentile. Derek Bok senior college thinking There's a great deal of difference between thinking reflectively about moral issues and achieving higher standards of ethical behavior. Derek Bok issues differences thinking Greater inequality in Europe has made people less happy. Derek Bok made europe people If we are prepared to invest the necessary time and effort, affirmative action can contribute to Harvard's quality and not detract from it. Derek Bok effort quality action The first country to adopt happiness as an official goal of public policy is the tiny little country of Bhutan in Asia near China and India. Derek Bok bhutan goal country I think it's sort of an outrage that companies should have to hire firms to teach the college graduates they employ how to write. Derek Bok college writing thinking Good teaching is creating really interesting generalizations out of war stories. Derek Bok creating teaching war There are no tests similar to SATs to tell us how much undergraduates know. State legislators, who appropriate billions of dollars each year to higher education, are naturally interested in finding out what they are getting for their money. Derek Bok dollars tests years
