Here's (yet another) (but slightly different) take on the WSJ/Epstein thing:

1) Trad humanities programs have seen declining student interest, financial support, and social status.

2) as a result those jobs are fewer and it's far more difficult to get through a program and get placed than it was in 1965. ...

3) You see a defensive reaction in some teachers of humanities against subjects that are getting lots of interest and support but which don't have a scholarly affect. Think 'national security studies'.

...

4) But for some older male faculty, this mixes with a disdain for fields they associate with women, like education. Epstein falls here.

5) The WSJ loves this because it allows them to participate in the culture wars, while publishing something only implicitly misogynistic; and then accuse those who call them out of political correctness, etc.

6) The decreased supply and increased competition for university teaching jobs suggests the standards for getting through have gotten considerably higher. Epstein can't see this because of his nostalgia for exams in Greek and the secretary w a glass of water.