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| Also listed in: Campus Progress Blog |
A few weeks ago, I took on a three-part series by conservative “scholar” and author of the infamously racist The Bell Curve, Charles Murray, who argued that most Americans are too dumb for college, and that most college educations impart no meaningful skills. Clearly following my lead (I am, of course, on the cutting edge of today’s journalism), the New York Times Sunday Magazine mentions some of the same critiques of Murray’s argument.
Citing the income gap between those with and those without higher education, the piece underscores the value of a college education, and goes beyond Murray’s simplistic conception of learning. Most importantly, the article focuses on the value of education as a general signal, pointing out how the modern economy’s greatest rewards “have gone to those whose intelligence is deployable in new directions on short notice, not to those who are locked into a single marketable skill...”
A college education isn’t the end-all, be-all of a meaningful existence. As undergraduate education becomes more accessible, perhaps some of its prestige will fade and transfer to graduate education. But, the point still stands. A college education is still a worthwhile and vital component of upward mobility and the American dream, and Charles Murray is still a moron.
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Comparing simply "those with a college degree" to "those without" as mass groups completely misses the legitimate ongoing argument here, as does focusing on Charles Murray's other moronic notions which are rather tangential to the point at hand here.
Besides, the vocational skills that are relevant today aren't just in becoming an electrician or a plumber. Like I noted in the article (or the comments afterwards), accounting, marketing, and similar programs are essentially vocational (although still flexible in their application) college programs that are hugely beneficial to people who might not go to grad school.
Even if you are so narrow-minded that you see the sole purpose of education as something that should directly translate into career options, a college education is still an increasingly necessary requirement in the modern economy. The health of our economy demands more and more people who have acquired at least a college education, and those kinds of "vocational" college degrees provide opportunities that no trade profession offers.
With that said, I DO think education is important in every context. Whether you strive to become a journeymen or obtain a Liberal Arts degree, the process of learning is the most valuable part of education. As we better ourselves (no matter how minute it may seem to others) we inevitably become more productive members of society.
Your point that being a skilled tradesman is not a route to upward mobility suggests that you believe us rooted by our education or training. Being a Liberal Arts BA graduate health nut with no direction or discipline is not the route to upward mobility either. It's all about individual choice and motivation.
Anyone theoretically can make something of themselves, but education vastly increases the avenues that one can pursue, greatly increasing the likelihood that a lucrative or fulfilling career develops.
And yes, increasingly necessary. Its not really a contested idea. The income gap between those that do and do not have college educations is enormous - in my article I cite a census statistic indicating a $1 million lifetime income increase per post-secondary degree. People change jobs a lot. A general signal of ability to learn improves flexibility and the attractiveness of an employee, not to mention the dynamicism of the economy (which can have shifts in growth of sectors more rapidly than ever before).
I disagree. This is an attitude that is being ingrained into high school students everywhere... there is money in education. A lot of people profit from the idea that "education is the only way" when in fact, there are other avenues of improving oneself that can be equally beneficial.
There are many opportunities that still exist for people obtaining a degree or experience Xyears equivalent, etc. In fact, there are many jobs that will hesitate to hire a college graduate with NO work history because they have yet to prove themselves in reliability and work ethic. And no, going to school full-time and working full-time are not the same indicators of work ethic. It's easier to slack your way through school than it is to slack your way through a job.
My argument is of the concept "necessary."
Does having a college degree grant you prestige? Sometimes.
Do you have to have a college degree in order to have a lucrative career? No.
But is it NECESSARY to have a college degree? Depends on who you ask.
Plenty of people have catapulted up the social ladder armed with nothing other than their innovation and method of articulation.
Does having a college degree HELP the grand majority? Of course. But I think it's wrong to make all high school students feel as though they MUST have a degree or they'll never amount to anything.
Come on, someone has to flip the burgers.
:-)