Open the Books: U.S. Department of Education wastes billions each year

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(04-10-2019, 05:56 PM)Dill Wrote: I doubt many people "suited" for life as welders are much drawn to English, where they have to read hard stuff and write lots of papers.

But I take your general point. There are lots of people who back into college degrees. They go to college to get a job, but aren't particularly interested in any field.  So they gravitate towards majors they think provide the most likelihood of getting hired (e.g., criminology, hotel management, business), or the easiest ones (not Chemistry or violin).  Very costly. 

That said, I think college should be for everybody--in the sense it should not just be for the rich or white people. Every U.S. citizen who can qualify should have the opportunity. It should not just be about getting a job--vocational training either.

And I agree the other alternatives should be emphasized too. My son was considering going to electrician school once. I wish he had. Our neighbor's  son got a degree in air conditioning and heating and is doing well.  

You and I are pretty much in agreement. It should be available to everyone, but not everyone should go, and alternate paths should be promoted more.

There was a trade school affiliation with my high school for the final two years, but it was painted in a pretty negative light, and the teachers always were preaching about how you needed college. Fast forward awhile and I saw of people working at a phone store or coffee shop or somewhere with a college degree. Or found out only two years and $20k into college that it wasn't for them. Meanwhile as you said, air conditioning and heating pays well and you don't have 40k in debt to start off adulthood.


EDIT: I forgot to say I also think where efforts need to be aimed is towards increasing apprenticeships. There's a whole Baby Boomer generation of skilled workers finally leaving the workforce, and all of that rich experience and knowledge is going to just vanish. So much that you simply can't learn in a classroom from a person who is a teacher for a living or a book, rather than a person who did that trade for a living for 40+ years.