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Value to Students of Courses in Public Administration1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2013

Lewis Meriam
Affiliation:
Institute for Government Research, The Brookings Institution, February 3, 1940

Extract

Dear Professor —: I cannot at this moment lay my hand on your original letter to Dr. Moulton [president of the Brookings Institution], but as I recall it you expressed your desire to give in the department of political science courses which would prove of value to your students. You were particularly considering extending the work in public administration.

I have at one time or another given a good bit of thought to the question of value of courses in political science, and it seems to me we should consider three types of values: (1) cultural, (2) civic, and (3) vocational.

Cultural value, I should say, lies in giving the students a broad understanding of the world in which they live. Cultural courses lay a foundation upon which they may build as they go on through life. Such courses in political science should enable them, after formal school days are over, to follow developments, to understand, evaluate, and digest the more worthwhile news reports, magazine articles, and books that appear, and to grow in knowledge and, we hope, in wisdom.

Type
Research and Instruction
Copyright
Copyright © American Political Science Association 1940

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References

1 A letter written in response to an inquiry from the head of a department of political science.

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