Don't major in history, Lt. Gov. tells students

Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton told the editorial staff of the Eastern Kentucky University student newspaper that colleges and students should focus on programs that produce jobs.

“I would not be studying history," she was quoted as saying in an article posted on The Eastern Progress' website Thursday. "Unless, you have a job lined up."

A Bevin administration spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Friday afternoon, Hampton posted Twitter comments about her approach to education: "Throughout my career education has been a key part of my success. However, it took  sacrifice & perseverance during tough times."

In her meeting with The Eastern Progress staff, her comments somewhat echoed what Gov. Matt Bevin said earlier this year, that touched off a burst of criticism on Kentucky college campuses.

“There will be more incentives to electrical engineers than to French literature majors,” he said in January during his budget speech. “All the people in the world that want to study French literature can do so, they are just not going to be subsidized by the taxpayer like engineers.”

The Eastern Progress also reported that Hampton called higher education a "privilege," and "not a right."

And it quoted her as suggesting she does not want her taxes to support universities.

“Those of us who go to work must give part of their earnings to put you through college, and I disagree with that," the newspaper reported.

Update: On Saturday, the Eastern Progress published the full transcript of the interview, which included the full quote that reads, "I would not be studying history. Unless, you have a job lined up." The newspaper also issued a clarification: "As a student, Hampton said she would be looking for degrees that would land a job after graduating and not focusing majors such as history, which might have limited prospects." 

Reach reporter James Bruggers at (502) 582-4645 and at jbruggers@courier-journal.com.