Maggie's Farm

Of course, I disagree. Thousands of folks today in this country are paying money for a "guidance", a "training", or even a series of lectures they are not going to get! The question is who knows what:
1. does the woman in your HR department know which departments in which schools offer the best 'guidance'?

2. If your child cannot get into the school and department in which the world's 'wisest' is teaching in her field--what school and department will be your second choice? Does the parent know how to determine when faculty is truly knowledgeable and wise in a specific field?

The higher you go, the more money you pay the better you deserve--do you know how to find it?

Does the parent have the ability to find the grants and research monies that have been awarded to that department from outside sources? You say it doesn't matter--it does matter you know why? Because,the additional money does attract the better qualified, and even though the better qualified may not be teaching three days a week, they may be required to teach something and provide advanced insights not available to little Janey out there in little campus in the burbs. The presence of that money, that expert, in that department at that time creates an energy, an additional conversation that would not necessarily be there otherwise. Even if the researcher is an arrogant jerk--at least the presence creates an energy and a renewed interest among the average faculty and students. And, as I said, the additional money may filter down to provide additional benefits, i.e, faculty, labs.