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Sidelining the humanities ‘a terrifying prospect’

‘The aim of a university is a true enlargement of the mind’

Letters to the Editor. Illustration: Paul Scott
The Irish Times - Letters to the Editor.

Sir, – I was shocked to read that the University of Galway is considering sidelining the teaching of humanities because, apparently, students want courses which will lead to better job prospects.

To quote John Henry Newman, “The aim of a university is a true enlargement of the mind ... the power of seeing many things at once” (The Idea of a University). He must be spinning in his grave at such a terrifying prospect for the rest of us. – Yours, etc,

MARION WALSH,

Donnybrook,

Dublin 4.