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comment by bioemerl
bioemerl  ·  3635 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Why we are looking at the ‘value’ of college all wrong

As a society, an educated electorate is important.

However, an electorate that buys things instead of paying of debt with jobs that don't pay more because so many people are getting degrees is also very important to society.

College's worth can definitely be measured and counted. It's value stops where the cost to the people is higher than the potential benefit of making improved elections and such.

Secondly, colleges, or my college, has not felt like a place that you go to learn and expand your mind anymore. It's a place where you jump through hoops to get a degree to hopefully get a job that requires one, to hopefully make more money.

College for personal reasons is for the incredibly rich who have parents that can afford to pay for their college. Otherwise, it's a very poor decision unless you can make more money in the long run (years spent on a treadmill are also potential costs that aren't on the debt).





NotPhil  ·  3635 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    Secondly, colleges, or my college, has not felt like a place that you go to learn and expand your mind anymore. It's a place where you jump through hoops to get a degree to hopefully get a job that requires one, to hopefully make more money.

This is the problem the author was addressing. If we insist on seeing college as an economic good, then we, both students and schools, will ignore and neglect the educational aspect of it. Since education is the primary purpose of schools, we end up with an education that isn't. I don't think employers should be able to use degrees as a qualification for any sort of work.

bioemerl  ·  3635 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    I don't think employers should be able to use degrees as a qualification for any sort of work.

If this were the case, colleges would crash and burn overnight. Nobody would go to a place like college without incentive. Getting a better job, for the vast majority, is that incentive.

NotPhil  ·  3635 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    If this were the case, colleges would crash and burn overnight.

If that were the case, colleges would have the opportunity to revert to the educational institutions they used to be. Believe it or not, many people want to learn. These people are the reason that the liberal arts still exist in schools.

bioemerl  ·  3634 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Many people want to learn. Most can't afford it, or justify the expense without it having a return.

With this being true, the modern college system would crash and burn overnight. Some would stay afloat, as some would still go to colleges, but the vast majority would die off.

galen  ·  3635 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Probably college prices would crash, though. Learning is great, but not $20,000 (after scholarships) great.