From Yahoo Opinion. "Instead of a system based on the possession of a degree as a requirement for jobs, Mr. Murray proposes vocational training for students who lack the necessary inclination to pursue academic studies. They would receive certification for specific skills needed in the workplace. Anything else, he says, is educational romanticism."
My two cents on the whole college thing:
The College Conundrum
The NEW Lessons in Higher Education
"I Refuse to Sacrifice For You, Then Resent You For It"
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7 comments:
I agree! Mr Chiots and I both have college degrees which we aren't using. We always joke that we spend $50,000 on each other (a piece so $100,000 total for our relationship). I wouldn't trade finding each other for anything, but I sure wish I hadn't spent that much on my degree.
Both my sisters-in-law have degrees: one in Biology, the other a Master's in education. Neither one could find a job that uses their degrees, so one settled for a state job in the Fisheries dept. shuffling papers, while the other became a SAHM.
It's been about 20 years since they graduated, and both are still carrying student loan debt. One SIL has it worse than the other--her husband pursued a law degree at the same time, so now one set of in-laws has 2 degrees to pay for! Thank god her hubby actually put his to work, and is now a judge in Phoenix, AZ.
"...as far back as 1963 that precise question was raised by John Keats in a little noticed book with the apt title of "The Sheepskin Psychosis." The author concluded that college is merely the most convenient place to learn how to learn. It is not an absolute determinant by any means.
The most recent exponent of this view is Charles Murray. In "Real Education," which came out last year, he argues that a bachelor's degree tells an employer nothing except that an applicant has a certain amount of intellectual ability and perseverance."
That about says it all...well, and that the applicant had/found money to blow on being liberally institutionalized for four years.
Intellect and perseverance are usually taught in the home, or absorbed from home environment before one ever gets to college. As long as smart parents are openly discussing adult topics in front of their children, the "little sponges" will absorb context, meaning, and be able to form reasons for and against...maybe even empathy.
Well, at least that's what happened in MY house--two intelligent parents (well, they both smoked and drank--not very intelligent), along with their friends, openly discussed a wide range of topics in front of us, and also let us read and watch pretty much anything (Johnny Carson was the family favorite). Much to Mom's detriment, I also absorbed her sharp wit and tongue.
Case in point: SAHM SIL's daughter, only 4, was allowed to skip mandatory preschool because she charmed the socks off the interviewing administrator with her college-level words and expressions. Good thing her mom's trained to be a teacher. I suspect she'll be skipping a lot of grades in the future.
Something else my parents did--bought and let us play with toys that stimulated IMAGINATION, such as Legos (the big bucket--before the wheels, doors, windows, and people were invented), Tinker Toys, Lincoln Logs, and those assorted sized- and shaped colored wooden blocks. Instead of buying us one-function limiting toys (in kits), we had the whole world open to us, as long as it was expressable in the toys we already had (sometimes our log cabins had a Legos foundation). These toys alone, it seems, taught me to reason, substitute, apply logic, and persevere until I hit my goal (or some facsimile of it).
I was also the only senior in high school English class who knew what a "domestic engineer" was. Our teacher did the predictable "what are you going to be when you grow up?" question around the room, and I had no answer, so I figured I'd bamboozle the class instead.
I'm posting a comment that was made on one of the linked articles--way too far back in the archives for your current enjoyment, so I bring it forward:
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Anonymous said...
Dear Wenchy,
I SO agree about education and the future of our job sourcing in the U.S.
I obtained a University education in the Arts. I didn't have a clue what I would do in the future, however, my husband and I had our education funded through PELL grants. My husband served in Vietnam. Therefore we received $464 for housing. As California residents (with a child no less) we simply couldn't afford the rent in L.A. so we moved to a small town in Southern Illinois, and attended a University there. Long story short, my husband received his Bachelors in Electrical Engineering subsequently obtaining a job in the engineering field. Fast forward 20 years. He hasn't received a job increase in 5 years, though as you have described in other posts, he has bartered to obtain other perks. He currently works from home and receives a small stipend for internet connection. I went on to obtain a teaching certificate in Ca. through a little known program called, "the District Intern program." This program allowed me to be paid as a full-time teacher while obtaining my teaching certificate- gratis. The shock of all of us (mainly older students) returning to the classroom was astounding. Many immigrants, many union "games", just mainly poorly treated and malnourished children trying to concentrate in the classroom! My point? I have two brothers who never went on to higher education One owns his own service-oriented business (welder), the other is a pilot (without going through the military or university to obtain his license- just hard work and smarts.) They both bring in more income than either my husband and I combined.
I'm an older, stay-at-home mom now. Content to be so. I went back to school to obtain a completely useless certificate to re-enter the work force after a 10 year hiatus. I wasted almost $4000 and I still do not have a job because now all the hiring goes to the upper grades and I STILL don't have the proper credentials that require specialization (they change the rules every decade or so.)They also don't hire teachers in my field any where I live any longer unless I decide to commute some 30 miles to work. Advice, do MUCH research before committing to ANY work field. Higher education or not!
My parents taught us how to be janitors as children-please don't talk slave labor - we just worked together, and hard. It is common-sense smarts, library and social research that will get you ahead. Job security is a thing of the past. Do I value education - absolutely. But if you believe your children are being prepared for the future by our current school system, you are sadly mistaken. Want to help your children succeed in the future real world? Teach them at least three foreign languages, teach them at least one trade (cooking,sewing,automobiles, computer programming, welding, plumbing, etc.)And if you have the time then give them a solid classic education, if you can find one. As you've said before, the real jobs are the jobs that serve the common man. Our future is changing and it will take flexible minds, physiques, and educations to exist in the world of the future.
One last note. I like your idea about giving our children dwellings to live in after graduation or learning a trade. The impetus of thinking of ways to pay for utilities, etc. will teach them to think critically and imaginatively about what they can do to survive, but might I also add, teach them about the realities of commerce, home ownership costs, frugal living BEFORE they graduate. Our job as parents is to teach our children how to successfully navigate adulthood. Home ownership or not.
By the way, I like your website. Thank you for providing this free help. Keep up the good work!
No slave labor comments HERE, assure you. In fact, we ought to bring back children working side-by-side with parents in business--just think what they'd learn as opposed to the brain-rot they suffer NOW with electronic everything, and endless access to parent-catered junk foods.
This would also cut down on unattended, unsupervised latchkey kids...and maybe teenage pregnancy, vandalism, gang activity, and a whole host of other things.
The problem is that folks have such an engrained view that one must go to college that they are blinded to the other great possibilities today. A bunch of 18 year old kids finding ways to create valuable businesses for us today will likely create far more value than a few more History degrees from Harvard.
Would love to hear your thoughts on my blog at:
http://valueofcollege.blogspot.com
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