Shouldn’t students be free to pick and choose which courses they take?
A core curriculum is in no way incompatible with choice. The core ensures the basics are covered while leaving students free to choose their own interests through electives and in their major. Problems arise when too many choices undermine the goal of providing students a coherent education. Once distribution requirements become too loose, students inevitably graduate with an odd list of random, unconnected courses. More fundamentally, a basic part of the teaching process is identifying what material is to be taught. Educators and administrators must exercise judgment and identify critical areas for required study, rather than leave it up to 18-year-old freshmen to determine what they need to know. A school can address these seven core subjects with a core of 30-35 hours.
