A new college ranking, strictly speaking

I have a new college ranking system. It rates schools based on their students' speaking skills!

So far, two colleges top the list, each earning Five Cicero’s, the maximum score. The institutions are the University of the South in Tennessee and Hillsdale College in Michigan.

Last year I visited both schools for two days and spoke with many students, none of whom said “um,” misused “like,” or concluded any sentences with “and stuff.”

How can this happen?

Both schools are academically intensive liberal arts colleges with small classes in which you are expected to participate and in which peers and professors listen to what you say and respond and put you on the spot. In this environment, it’s best to express yourself clearly and intelligently.

My goodness! Is it possible that liberal arts colleges can teach a marketable skill, like speaking smoothly and smartly? I suppose so.