According to education secretary Nicky Morgan, teenagers should focus their studies on science and maths subjects to increase their likelihood of finding a job.
Good to know my degree is useless “Education Secretary: If you want a job, drop humanities http://t.co/szwvff8CNE ”
Her argument is that while many think that STEM subjects – science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – tend to lead to a specific career, the opposite is now the case, and the skills learned studying them "are useful for all kinds of jobs".
Students should therefore not assume humanities and arts "are the subjects that keep young people's options open".
Morgan said the UK was looking to hire 830,000 engineers over the next 10 years, and added: "All these engineers can't be men. If we want to make the most of half of our workforce, if we want to eliminate the gender pay gap and we want that same half of the workforce to succeed in jobs that boost our economy, we must make sure that teenage girls don't feel, and are certainly not told, that certain subjects are the preserve of men."
This prompted a pretty severe reaction from people who presumably either study, or studied, an arts or humanities degree.
No no no no no NO *restrains oneself from punching walls* http://t.co/GZNeTsfZ6w
Ermmmmm - what!! http://t.co/n0mUe7hG1y #geographyteacher
This is evil. http://t.co/GIyCmkNev3
Nicky- what IS this?! http://t.co/NHLXclZYI5
So severe in fact that a lot of people simply couldn't express themselves in full sentences.
sigh http://t.co/j2XpglUwDQ #NickyMorgan #wrongabouthearts
So. Angry. http://t.co/gko8d71wQD
Argh. ARGH. http://t.co/8saZyxCP6r (via @SMCoulombeau, whose anger I very very much share)
NOT COOL BRO MT@Independent: Education Secretary Nicky Morgan tells teenagers: If you want a job, drop humanities http://t.co/qOCLnbtMps
One decided to use emoji.
<img src="https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v1/72x72/1f44e.png"><img src="https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v1/72x72/1f44e.png"><img src="https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v1/72x72/1f44e.png"> http://t.co/eveCWp4gxD
Others just got a bit sweary.
“@Independent: Education Secretary Nicky Morgan tells teenagers: If you want a job, drop humanities http://t.co/42OiG8Wsik” for fuck's sake
"If you want a job, drop humanities" Get tae fuck. http://t.co/azAIEKCaAo "
“@Independent: Education Secretary Nicky Morgan tells teenagers: If you want a job, drop humanities http://t.co/lllh9aqx2X ” Urm fuck off??
And another pointed out that some might classify Morgan's degree, an alternative version of law, as a humanities subject.
Nicky Morgan's own degree, jurisprudence, could easily be classed as "humanities" btw.
Some pointed out that there were problems with her argument.
Utter crass stupidity of a Minister at @educationgovuk ignoring evidence & advising students NOT to study Humanities. http://t.co/5ZlD6hLNtA
I think Nicky Morgan is right. A degree in engineering would be equally good for a whole host of jobs. Like...engineering...er...and...um…
Such as the fact that the prime minister got his undergraduate degree in politics, philosophy, and economics.
@David_Cameron How do you feel about the fact your education minister thinks your arts degree is useless and a hindrance?
And as some people channelled every arts student...
Oh dear. Well I'm going to be unemployed then aren't I. http://t.co/7UqKWdvnoe
http://t.co/zG58yHpMB6 Nicky Morgan, you're drunk. Go home.
...and others repeated the words of every chemistry teacher...
I remember my chemistry teacher telling me that the arts and humanities were 'wishy-washy' subjects. I ignored him. http://t.co/Ff6GQ5FKEN
...our favourite response was probably this very British reply to the whole situation.
Ed Sec, tells teenagers to stay away from humanities if they want a job. As a BA grad, I feel slightly insulted! http://t.co/yzANpwbmWQ