Bostonian, thank you for posting and sharing this WSJ op ed. This underscores a debate which has been ongoing for decades: the value of liberal arts education (sometimes called classical education) -vs- career-oriented education (sometimes called vocational training or vocational education). Over time, the lines may have become blurred.

Some have said the classical education takes the long view and teaches a commonality throughout the centuries. Vocational education may be more specialized to the issues and economy of a particular time and place. Both are needed, but to supplant the classical with the vocational, terming career prep content as liberal arts is the concern.

While another poster shared that their education had furnished them with debate skills, their summative response that they are not dead does not seem to answer or debate any point previously presented.

Lovemydd, yes I observe what you do in the US. Intelligence may not be highly regarded. On the surface intelligence may be denigrated, while the underlying sentiment may be fear of loss of control over those with unusually high intelligence. Breaking a horse comes to mind.

In thinking deeply about the OP's article on free tuition at US public universities, when viewed from many perspectives we are left wondering what has spurred the rapid increase in tuition? Funding research? Shifting costs to some students in order to subsidize others? Paying out lifetime retirement benefits? The most effective answers to controlling costs of higher education may be in identifying the areas of cost growth, prior to considering how growing costs might be financed. As with gifted students, each institution may have a unique profile, and therefore a unique approach, rather than a one-size-fits-all policy.