56% Say Every American Should Attend College

Rasmussen Reports ^ | 05/06/09

[YoungHickey]

The more time that goes by, the more I realize that I have been scammed.

[lormand]

My experience with college taught me that obtaining a college degree is about commitment and money. I saw too many examples based on my observations of college professors that intellect had nothing to do with it.

[Army Air Corps]

saw too many examples based on my observations of college professors that intellect had nothing to do with it.

Ah, so you have met some of my colleagues.

[HIDEK6]

The retarded kid who cleans the hallway in my building really ought to spend four years sitting in a college classroom or two years in a “floor polishing” school.

More than one of the "retarded" kids have three or four rental properties and no debt.

[lormand]

The best professor I had was an English professor, Dr. Thibadeau. His lesson on poetry was an enlightening experience for all senses, literally. He taught to interpret poetry using all of your senses, olfactory, tactal, etc, and not go into some wild imaginative interpretation of it.

This method can be used to deprogram liberals.

[MortMan]

What was your major?

I went through a Computer Engineering Technology BS (the other kind) program at a second-tier school on an ROTC scholarship. I did my military time, and have now worked in the field for 18 or so years. (Gosh, I’m getting old!)

I left college with little debt, although the debt I stupidly amassed during my military years and shortly thereafter still haunts me. I can’t picture having spent the last umpteen years paying off my college education.

[A Texan]

Actually I would be part of the 56%. I think everyone should attend college. Should it be paid for by the government? No. Should everyone graduate? No. Is everyone smart or responsible enough to attend? No. But should everyone try college? Yes, because you never know if you will excel.

[A Texan]

I agree, although I have never had to blow anyone. And if a college degree prevents that from happening, I will fold mine up and keep it in my wallet.

[unique]

Fifty-six percent (56%) of American adults say that every American should receive further education after high school by attending either a college or vocational school.

I agree.

Would you be willing to pay for it?

NO!

It's really all about the money. Generally, college or even vocational school can help in the lifetime job market. Sure, attend if you want to but find your own money to pay for it.

[blam]

"Now, not only will half of all high school graduates be functionally illiterate, but half the college grads will be, too! "

47% of the residents of New Orleans can't read or write and don't give a crap about it as long as the government checks continue to arrive.

They'll laugh hysterically at this idea of going to college.

Keep paying your taxes, suckers!!!

[Vaduz]

And 100% have not seen obama’s grades from college it’s kind of like that birth certificate thingy keep it hid.

[freespirited]

"Fifty-six percent (56%) of American adults say that every American should receive further education after high school by attending either a college or vocational school.” That's a little bit different from the headline.

Yes, you are right, and I did notice that. But I still think that there are a huge number of jobs that do not require any post secondary education. I also suspect that requiring waitresses and cab drivers to have, say, two years of postsecondary training would serve no purpose but to raise prices.

[freespirited]

I’m skeptical of anyone with a soft science degree, and 10 times more skeptical if that degree is from an Ivy League School.

If my experience is any guide, you are definitely on to something.

[Publius6961]

56% Say Every American Should Attend College

Or, better yet, simply require educators to return the High School graduation requirements to meaningful levels. "College," today, is for many just a wasteful repeated exercise in what should have been taught (and learned) in High School.

Just saying.

[freespirited]

Part of the problem is HR departments requiring a degree for even the most menial job. My company for instance has decided that 1st level help desk staff (people basically reading a script on a screen) need a BA/BS.

We can "thank" the Supreme Court for this. A 1970 ruling bascially encouraged lawyers to sue employers for discrimination if they use standardized tests to make hiring decisions that dont produce equal outcomes by grievance group. Since then HR departments have been playing it safe and relying instead on requirements like a college degree to screen applicants. It's a crude proxy, but there is still no denying that a person with a college degree is likely to be brighter and have better work habits than a person without one.

The Supreme Court ruling was a perfect example of how smart people can be supremely stupid.

[Starwolf]

The title is disingenuous,the first line of the story has it correctly...college OR vocational school. The latter is key. High school even way back when prepared one for little other than blue collar/minimal entry level skill jobs. Vocational schools have been ignored to our peril and that needs to be fixed and fixed soon.

[Publius6961]

Have they figured out how they are going to deal with all the high school dropouts we have today? Are these folks going to get a pass and be able to attend college too?

Of course not!
They'd rather not.

However, in the present "entitlement" mentality atmosphere, I see the next logical step as demanding the equivalent cash amount necessary to get a college education, in addition to the current universe of dozens of welfare programs, including, of course, the criminal "earned income credit" and "income tax 'refunds'!"

I'm positive that ACORN is working on this very issue as we speak.

[dangerdoc]

My point is that a good high school education would be the equivalent of most BA programs today.

[Smokin' Joe]

Short of some specialized courses, the BA of today would be just indoctrination shy of the former (1950s) HS diploma.

Which is really a bite in the keester for those of us who got our Bachelor of Science decades ago, because the qualification isn't as meaningful as it once was.

[YoungHickey]

I am still working my way through school on the GI Bill. I started off doing Electronics since I was a Radioman in the Navy but then I changed majors to Computer Science when I found out how much math was involved. I work in IT and everything is hands-on. There isn’t much programming, if any, so it just seems like a waste of time for me.

I work for Northrop on a Lockheed contract and I’ve been doing well for myself without the degree. I spent some money on certifications which didn’t seem like a waste... but it’s all BS. None of the stuff I’ve learned was in school or because of the certifications, yet that’s the reason I got the job.