Richard Rudy: McCrory’s ‘liberal arts’ education

Our governor and legislative majority are loud in decrying, denigrating and deconstructing much about a “liberal arts education” and North Carolina’s university system in particular. When confronted with something within the system that achieves remarkable recognition (maybe a Nobel Prize?), one hears but faint praise.

I read Gov. Pat McCrory’s bio in the Feb. 28 Focus article “Gov. McCrory touts record, big and small” and learned he holds a “bachelor’s degree in education and political science” (mighty liberal artsy sounding, thought I) and “obtained a North Carolina teaching certificate.”

Curiosity prompted me to the website of Catawba College, our governor’s alma mater, which describes itself as a “private coeducational liberal arts college.”

The governor has done well with a “liberal arts” education and teaching certificate. As a favorite T-shirt said: “Those who can, teach. Those who can’t, pass laws about teaching.”

This story was originally published March 2, 2016 at 4:55 PM with the headline "Richard Rudy: McCrory’s ‘liberal arts’ education."