Word: vag
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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...detected the beneficial influences of a liberal education. He found some professors who seemed to know a lot about many different things, and who had warm and humble personalities to boot. If this were the result of liberal training, then there seemed to be some sense to it. But Vag had to admit to himself that there were as many rotten, obnoxious individuals at college as at home...
...confusing was the fact that not everyone at college seemed to agree on what a liberal education was. Some seemed to think it involved getting acquainted with the "big" ideas and the "great" problems of all time, and, in theory at least, this seemed like a good thing to Vag. But others seemed to think it involved throwing oneself into any subject that proved stimulating. Some of these even claimed that students should be allowed to grow gloriously lopsided along whatever lines they pleased. This too had its good points, but Vag could not see why it was any worse...
...Vag generally had to give up the idea of explaining to his friend that a liberal education was making him a better man. Often he would seek to meet his friend on his own terms, and argue that a liberal education was preparing him better for his future job. He could always point out, for example, that business schools didn't give any special preference to economics majors as making the best businessmen, but selected those students who had done well in any field. And he had heard in the Navy that NROTC students, though initially at a disadvantage, generally...
...Vag had often tried good-naturedly to convince a doctor-in-training friend of his that he should be more liberally educated. But the doctor won every argument with the same triumphant question. "Vag," he would say. "Assume you are about to die, and only the most delicate operation can save you. Would you choose a doctor who knew his science thoroughly, or one could quote Plato to you?" And put in these terms Vag had to admit he would choose the lopsidedly scientific doctor...
...Vag," his friend greeted. "Say, where are you going to school now?" "Harvard," Vag answered uncomfortably. "What are you studying there?" Friend continued. "I'm a liberal arts student," Vag replied. "I guess you might say I'm sort of a history major." "Oh. Going to be a teacher, eh?" Friend continued. "No," Vag sighed. "Not necessarily. I don't really know what I'm going to be." And with that he walked away...