Send Fewer Students to College (College is the wrong choice for many students)

National Review ^ | 10/27/2009 | Robert VerBruggen

[Mr. Jeeves]

Winters argues that in addition to being able to get more kids into college, we need to. Why? Because, he says, our economy has a strong, unmet demand for educated workers.

But these would be fake educated workers. Employers are seeing too many of those coming out of college already.

[John Will]

I can’t imagine a PhD in English going into Industry like a Chemistry or Electrical Engineering PhD could.

[STONEWALLS]

“I can’t imagine a PhD in English going into Industry like a Chemistry or Electrical Engineering PhD could.”

....about their only chance is in business writing/editing...like manuals, guide books, policies, directives ect.

[indthkr]

"Higher education, in its gross inefficiency, soaring costs and wired-in lack of market forces rigor, is poorly designed for almost EVERYONE."

There is no doubt that Higher Education has not quicly adapted with technological and market forces.

When a university researcher has to fork over 50% of incoming grant money to pay for overhead and other "services", you know there's a problem.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

I had a chance to see several essays that began, “I am writng about______________ because _________ ___________”. Not everyone will be a gifted writer, but this opening is pretty lame!

[John Will]

And that is done by Scientific & Technical Communication majors.

[Wonderama Mama]

Why oh why do people think that government schools are a solution for anything? Take the initiative: "do it" yourself.

I hear what you are saying and my son and husband do have a whole shop thing going on in our garage. I steer clear of it because I know my limitations and I value my fingers! LOL

My son has been making skateboards for his friends for years and now wants to start shaping surfboards.

I'm just saying they have to be in school for so many hours, I would be nice if they were taught something useful.

[redgolum]

For many, college is a waste of time. The costs are such that financially getting a degree is a less, and less attractive investment.

[Nat Turner]

You can see the rot, when you have to read most of the pieces produced by "average" management in America today or graduate students.
While, I am not a professional writer, I do know the 8 parts of speech and that subjects should agree with verbs every now and then

I wish that corporate America, would instead of looking for diversity, sought excellence instead but I know better.

[maryz]

Higher education isn’t all about “job skills”. It is also strongly related to producing a “whole man”.

Ha! You're as old-fashioned as I am! :) We still remember when there was a recognized difference between education (as in "the life of the mind") and vocational training!

[maryz]

He uses as evidence the fact that the “college wage premium”(. . .) has increased over the past few decades.

I read an article years ago that argued that the "college wage premium" was highly misleading, since the really high-earning college grads were those with graduate or professional degrees. Yes, they're college grads, but I don't think anyone studied the wage difference between those who had only up to high school and those who had nothing beyond a Bachelor's.

[GingisK]

For many, college is a waste of time.

A good education is essential to the continued functioning of our Nation. Ignorant citizens have given us the mess we now enjoy.

[GingisK]

We still remember when there was a recognized difference between education (as in "the life of the mind") and vocational training!

That is exactly what I am talking about! People went to college and narrowed their focus so much that those institutions became vocational schools on steroids. The real reason to go to a university is to become a gentleman. All of our Founding Fathers were very well educated, and look at what they were capable of doing. We are all "trade educated", and look at what we've done to the Nation they built!

There isn't a statesman in Congress right now; otherwise, the lot of them would know how to take care of ALL of their constituents, not just the ones who voted for them. I credit that situation to lack of a proper education ... whether they went to college or not.

[1010RD]

Kids learn responsibility by being given real responsibility. Much of what you did as a young man is now illegal or restricted to this generation of young people.

We are raising sissies and it seems intentional. 7/10 black kids will never know a father. PCness drives out any attempt to extend oneself beyond the ruling paradigm.

It is stifling, but I don’t see an easy way out for any American.

[1010RD]

Kids cannot get drivers licenses, are limited to all kinds of kid activities by law, and how do we expect them to become adults by 18?

They sure do know how to have all kinds of degrading sex though and that old white men destroyed the Garden of Eden Earth used to be.

[1010RD]

Isn’t ignorance the unstated goal of government education? That’s the 900 pound gorilla. It sucks a ton of money, time and effort out of what should be a good thing - education.