The belief that technical education is illiberal

The widespread introduction of “liberal” or “general” studies into technical courses has been one of the most conspicuous changes in further education in England and Wales during the post‐war years. The process has been marked by the setting‐up in many colleges of separate — often large — academic departments for the work, by the provision of facilities and amenities on a scale hitherto rare, and by the appointment of teaching staff in subject specialisms formerly uncommon in technical colleges. The whole operation has thereby altered not only the content and structure of most technical courses, but also the characteristics of many of the institutions themselves.