In one of my more brilliant pieces I noted that given how much fluff and prerequisites colleges and universities foist upon their students simply for no other reason than to employ otherwise unemployable TA's and liberal arts professors, that it takes too long to incubate labor.
The costs of which are notably lost production, a demoralized student body and a wasting of billions of dollars on the education industry that is progressively moving away from training youth to become employable, skilled workers to that of a self-interested lobby unto itself that seeks more and more money.
Inevitably this divergence from what colleges produce and what employers need results in employers taking matters into their own hands.
Regardless of how valueless the education the degree is based on, there is a certain value to a college or university degree in modern times. Much like you I worked as a security guard when I was in University (although I didn’t work on campus) and my boss at the time told me that he specifically looked for University students who had successfully completed at least one year of school because that demonstrated a level of dedication beyond the typical individual in our age group. While I could be wrong, I suspect that even the graduates from the easiest of degree fields (drama for example) would be more reliable and harder working employees than the typical high-school graduate.
ReplyDeleteWith that said, I think it is pretty moronic to get a degree if all it says about you is that you're a better barista or burger flipper than the typical high-school graduate.
Now, as for your previous article about the value of dance, music, foreign language or sports instruction for children ...
I firmly believe that higher education is more about establishing career opportunities for an individual, but at younger ages a lot of education is about giving children skills for life. One of the most common fears for people is public speaking and performance arts (music, dance and drama) are a great way to give people confidence in front of crowds. Sports are a great way to help a child develop leadership and teamwork skills, and can help develop personal discipline and character. Finally, learning a second language often aids in building understanding of your primary language; many people I know who have immigrated to Canada have mentioned that English is a difficult language because it is such a free form language, but this is problematic for most native English speakers because the free form nature of the language means that we never have to understand our own language to speak it.
Wow, the return of the apprenticeship.
ReplyDeleteFunny how this model never left trade schools - you take a year or two of technical classes (and very little general requirements bullshit you see at universities), most of the classes involve hands-on technical stuff, then you get hired on as an apprentice, until you've polished those skills.
Which is why electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, bricklayers, automotive technicians and body repair technicians and those who actually can do stuff are earning far more than someone with a 4-year BA degree in sociology or psychology or other liberal arts major.
With so many university students not being able to complete a four year degree program, there is no need for most graduates to have a philosophy course or a year of foreign language, or a year of English literature or history (usually an alternative liberal history that bears no resemblance to reality).
I think the universities will eventually do themselves in. The cost-benefit ratio is unreasonably poor for many degree programs - they literally aren't worth the investment. Many more programs are also eroding their cost-benefit.
But worse, universities are teaching liberal dogma and philosophy, while graduating students with zero skills and high expectations for doing nothing.