Show m Poor Protest Shows Need s 1 I for General EdI Ed ii Dear Editor I J I had the personal misfortune to observe observe ob- ob b- b serve students demonstrating against Iran this v past Tuesday afternoon afternoon after- after r noon 13 November From that experience ex- ex 4 ce I resolved the following i 1 students lacked basic political understanding of the Iranian situation a 2 students lacked basic economics comprehension of the present oil situation 3 students lacked basic skills in organizing and executing a successful successful successful suc suc- protest movement 4 students lacked basic spelling skills and 5 students lacked basic communications communications communications com com- skills While I dont don't disagree wi with th students students' students students' students students' stu stu- dents' dents rights to protest I see a definite need to be informed and be in possession possession possession posses posses- sion of communications skills in order to articulate the problem Based on last Tuesdays Tuesday's experience may I suggest the following 1 Political Science for a basic understanding of our contemporary contemporary contemporary poli political problems 2 Economics for a basic grasp of our present economic situation situation situation situa situa- tion 3 Sociology for a basic understanding understanding understanding under under- standing of collective behavior and social movements 4 English 80 or for basic spelling spelling spelling ling and grammar skills and 5 Communications or English English English En En- glish for improved communications communications communications com com- skills These all are in our catalog and offered regularly to students Yet some will argue that the above are general type education-type classes at ata ata a trade and vocational school no less My point is this Trade school or not all the good efforts as teachers and students as well as the scarce tax dollars dollars dollars dol dol- dol- dol lars needed to operate go up in smoke when stud students appear as fools in front of local TV cameras and demonstrate in ignorance Past up follow-up studies bear this present point so clearly graduates of do donot donot donot not fail because they cannot do their tasks at the work bench they fail because because because be be- cause they lack basic social psychological and communication skills While employment is an important important important im im- im- im part of our lives still we spend ab about t two two thirds third of ou our time ime in working non-working situations The demonstration demonstration demonstration de de- de- de last Tuesday strengthens the position for more not less general type education-type classes at Utah Technical College Kjartan T. T Magnusson Business Division |