Being able to support oneself is not a bad idea. Having been trained as an engineer was useful for muddling through life while making a little money. I had a fine education in problem solving in a fairly narrow subject area. In engineering problem solving, you demonstrate whether or not a problem was solved. Either what you did worked or it did not.

An educational environment in which students must prove that their ideas work would benefit our society where rhetoric now predominates . We have many people in leadership positions that have no clue about technology, engineering, science and problem solving including those who govern (see Reflection 6 ).

We also have a large number of people who could solve many of the problems that face society (engineers and scientists) that can't be bothered. It would be nice to get more trained problem solvers focused on society's real problems. I spent seven years taking Math, Physical Science and Engineering courses and NOTHING else.

In his book, " The Spirit of Laws, " Montesquieu wrote: " Now a government is like everything else: to preserve it we must love it. … Everything, therefore, depends on establishing this love of republic; and to inspire it ought to be the principal business of education. "To make effective decisions in a democracy, citizens must be able to communicate and solve problems effectively and love democracy which requires an understanding of English, mathematics, history, political science and ethics.

To build a course index, I surveyed University curriculums, the US National Academy of Sciences, the Academy of Arts, and the State of New York Education program indices. After compiling this list, it occurred to me that I had not adequately covered Military Science. To my surprise, the United States Military Academy 's web site defined an outstanding 21st century core curriculum in the form of learning models. ALL college graduates should have USMA learning model skills, in addition to their chosen area of study whether that is poetry, art, theater or engineering

Here is a simplified overview of those learning models:

• Math, Science, and Technology graduates draw upon their knowledge and skills in mathematics and science to address issues pertaining to technology, decision making, problem solving.
• Engineering Thought Process graduates use the engineering thought process by which mathematical and scientific facts and principles are applied to leading a technologically complex organization.
• Cultural Perspective graduates draw on an appreciation of culture to understand human behavior, achievement, and ideas and appreciate both the diversity of western culture and the challenges of performing in a global multicultural environment.
• Historical Perspective graduates draw on an appreciation of history to understand in a global context human behavior, achievement and ideas. Leaders are expected to have an historical perspective and to be sensitive to patterns of continuity and change of societies.
• Human Behavior graduates understand patterns in human behavior, particularly how individuals, organizations, and societies pursue social, political, and economic goals and apply that understanding to effective leadership.
• Communication graduates express their thoughts and communicate, especially in writing, in precise language, correct sentences, and concise, coherent paragraphs.
• Moral Awareness graduates recognize moral issues and apply ethical considerations in decision making and can rationally analyze ethical responses to moral problems.
• Continued Educational Development graduates have the foundation for continuing educational goals and the capability and willingness to pursue additional learning on their own.
• Creativity graduates confront ambiguous situations, apply their thinking skills and innovation to solve problems and can transfer what they know in one context or discipline to another.

Liberal education requires studying: Applied Math, Engineering Science, Anthropology, Communications, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, World Cultural Studies, Classics, History, Philosophy and Religion