A few years ago, the University of Lethbridge went from thirteen-week semesters to twelve. And then this fall, between Virtue Signalling Day (September 30) and cancelling classes today to perform a completely gratuitous Covid reset, we’re down to eleven. If for decades we could have packed thirteen weeks of content into eleven, what were we doing for the other two? Babysitting, I guess. So why not cut it down to ten? Or better yet, six? 

After all, for most of my students it’s “Yeah, I took a philosophy class once.” Whadya learn? “Can’t remember!” They’re taking my class to get a credit to get a degree to get a job, a job they could have done just as well four years earlier. But where else are they going to meet that first husband or wife? 

So on a snow day, especially if it’s not snowing, students get to stay home to play video games, and profs get to do some research, or, more likely, go for that three-martini lunch. So less class time is good for everyone. 

Well, not quite. Not for those however-few who are actually there to learn. If they’re being educated, then less class time means they’re being less educated. And so as tuitions go up, they’re paying more for less. Administrators who pretend otherwise are just boldface liars.

At some point someone is going to have to decide how much less content will still count as a university credit. When will that be? When our know-nothing graduates can’t compete with graduates who didn’t get to stay home on September 30 to play video games.

Categories: Everything You Wanted to Know About What's Going On in the World But Were Afraid to Ask, Social and Political Philosophy, Why My Colleagues Are Idiots

Tags: covid, education, Truth and Reconciliation Day, university, University of Lethbridge