That's not a fault with the education system though, that's a fault of those who demand the certifications.
It's both. They're in cahoots. Colleges promote this kind of thing because they want the money. College ceased to be about education when it became about business. There was a time when you lived up to the school's standards or they kicked your ass out. Nowadays, students can just about get away with murder as long as the tuition is paid or fans are attending ball games. Of course, there was a time when a high school diploma meant something and a bachelors degree really meant something. We've dumbed down education and devalued it in the process. Gods and Clods, man. Gods and Clods.
The entire public education system is at least in my opinion designed to be institutions of indoctrination for socialism. Over the past few decades there has purposely been far less emphasis on the basics with an ever expanding effort to try and rewrite history, place more emphasis on the arts and multi-culturalism. Our public universities, do not put forth an effort to excellence, or individualism. They promote conformity and try to influence people to seek out "good" jobs.
What's wrong with the arts? Tell me the name of a great businessman in the time of the Greeks, now how about artists or philosophers? Which is easier to answer? Who has shaped thought more throughout history?
Artists have often been subsidized or sponsored. Take Mozart for example. The problem is the excess of it. A Mozart symphony is a work of art; pissing in a jar with a Christian cross in it is not.
Artists in Ancient Greece are remembered only because Greek statemen and warriors created an environment in which they could fluorish. Enjoy Aeschylus or Aristophanes? Be grateful for Solon and Cleisthenes, Miltiades and Themistocles.
The college experience is completely dependent upon your intellectual ability personal drive and career aspirations. For someone like me, it was a must for all of the above reasons. For others it would be unnecessary. That said, I believe more education is ashtrays better than less. The individual gains options. in terms of the nation it creates competitive edge. America is way behind internationally in producing scientists, for example.
Even warriors need to be educated in the art and skill of war. We have military academies for a reason .
My point was that statesmen and warriors can exist without artists, but usually not the other way around. You must have the luxury of free time and the freedom of expression for cultivation of the arts; the Athenians had these because their forebears built and defended a culture that valued them.
I know a LOT of people who graduated college and have never used their degree. I also know a LOT of people that never went and make good money. My Dad has a business degree, he's had 2 careers: a firefighter and a conductor for UP. While he was a firefighter, he just worked random part time jobs. Not once has he ever used his degree. As a conductor he makes DAAAAMN good money -- all he has to do(most of the time), is sit and wave as he passes people. <-- his words, not mine. A close friend/mentor of mine never went to college, he makes a little over $90k/yr and just runs a sound board. He also gets to see the world and have everything taken care of for him while he's on the road. I've never really bought in to the "you need a college degree or you're screwed!" mentality, because I've seen so many people graduate and just fall flat on their face. IMO, real world experience is vastly superior to anything some overpaid professor(not teacher!) can provide you. I wish people still did apprentice work, etc... That's where the true "artists" of a field really can shine and you can weed out the bull shit, "I have a degree, so hire me!" people. When it comes down to it, I'd much rather have someone with 2 years experience working with me than someone with 4 years of college.
Indeed sir. Yet art can be found even in ancient caves. I tend to think both are necessary to advance a civilization. Someone has to draw the maps at the very least.
It's not so much people saying "I have a degree", it's people saying "Don't have a degree? Well, bye." Out of the people I know with and without a degree, it's the ones without who are far more likely to still be living with their parents into their late 20s.
I don't have a degree and have been on my own since I was 18. I know a LOOOT of people with a degree and still living with their parents -- not because they don't have the job to live on their own, they just can't because their loan payments are too high for them to afford a place. Also because they can't find a job in their field because it's already flooded with applicants that bring the same bull shit to the table, "I went to such-and-such school for x amount of years, I graduated with bla bla bla." Meanwhile, in my five years that I've not attended school I can say, "I may not have a degree, but I've managed a large store, I understand economics due to sales, I created my own business and have customers follow me wherever I go and I continue to bring new business in." I think that is worth far more than a piece of paper. I think it comes down to drive, work ethic, and perseverance more than anything. Even if you have a degree and get the job, that degree isn't going to keep you there or take you any farther.
You might think so, but more and more employers don't. That's the main thing driving kids to get college degrees.
This article hits home for me as it nails how my college education developed. I first attended a private university. You may ask what ridiculous degree I majored in order for my story to begin. The answer? Aviation. I wanted to be a pilot. Yes, the liberal-dominated aviation industry () was the drive that culminated in my search for higher education. Unfortunately, teenage malaise, computer games, and a serious lack of motivation eventually lead to my... ahem... dismissal. News articles about minimum wage commercial pilots have proven my forced course correction fortunate, our former naval-aviator zoomie notwithstanding. One year later, I decided to pursue a career in computers, something that was always in the background of my life, whether aviation, unsuccessfully chasing women, or my apparent whinging of my own dreadful life, it was always there. So, I went back to college and received a "lesser" associates degree. Continually seeking opportunity and acting like an actual human being during an interview processes has led to my current standing. Homeowner, a career with benefits, and the further unsuccessful chasing of women. Even now, however, I still seek advancement in my field, whether it be with my current or potential employer. Circumstances today dictate that a degree above a high school education is necessary for noobies entering the job market. Articles from Stossel, while accurate, ain't going to change that. Never ever stop crawling your way up, however. Do what you have to do to make money. Fuck the haters.
£97,250 for a leaky can of faeces. I kinda hope this is one of those times Wikipedia is full of shit.
No more so than any other voice of experience saying "don't make the mistakes I did" I make a point of telling other younger people with my condition DON'T do what i did!" at every opportunity. I'm sure that's probably true of many professions.
