[Speed Gibson,
Tuesday December 21, 2004 at 2:30pm]
Diplomas Then and Now
Shot in the Dark probes one of the great questions of our new century: who should go to college? As Mitch notes, with schools staffed with four year plus degreed teachers, it's not surprising that "why, everyone, of course!" is their collective answer. Obviously that's not real life. Somebody has to pour the steel, wax the cars, clear the sewer lines, and drive the taxicabs. No disrespect here. In fact, I would argue that too many jobs ostensibly requiring college degrees really do not. Or they wouldn't if a high school diploma was what it used to be before grade inflation and political correctness began their inexorable conversion of this once valuable document to a certificate of attendance.
You're all met "John." He's doing well in your company, a manager or better, and is working on his MBA at night. But on those occasional times you work with him on a project, you come away wondering who he's been blackmailing to get this far. He can't reason, add, or spell, or write a coherent memo let alone be trusted with an important contract. But trusted with an important contract he somehow is, one of your department's this time.
You've also met "Marcia." She supervises your shipping department, has been for four years now, making maybe $15-20 an hour. She started here right after high school, but has hit the glass ceiling, one that requires a Bachelor's of anything from almost anywhere to go higher. She has many ideas on that new contract with a major carrier, but she's not invited to the meetings. "John" is handling it.
"John" is deadwood, but "Marcia" is the one considered unpromotable at this mythical but all-too-representative company. The difference? Sheepskin. The truth? You don't really need to go to college to succeed. Bill Gates is but one of many, many CEO's with some or no college. Steven Spielberg eventually earned his B.A., but he directed and produced many memorable films first.
So why do so many companies require that B.A. or B.S. whether job-related or not? I think mostly because a high school diploma just isn't worth much anymore. They are readily granted, even to semi-illiterates lest we hurt their self-esteem or the school's reputation. Employers have to go up a level to at least a two year degree just to thin the herd of applicants all waving their high school diplomas. If nothing else, you filter out or correct those reported 30% of freshmen needing remedial work in English or Mathematics.
Have a look at this MPR piece on the subject. At Century College, 87 percent of their students need remedial math.
"I've never read a full book before," says college student Josephine Kuntz. "You go through high school you can get away with it. When you get to college, it's like you gotta do it."
Mitch is right, we need to return to the days when all educational opportunities are on the table.
You're all met "John." He's doing well in your company, a manager or better, and is working on his MBA at night. But on those occasional times you work with him on a project, you come away wondering who he's been blackmailing to get this far. He can't reason, add, or spell, or write a coherent memo let alone be trusted with an important contract. But trusted with an important contract he somehow is, one of your department's this time.
You've also met "Marcia." She supervises your shipping department, has been for four years now, making maybe $15-20 an hour. She started here right after high school, but has hit the glass ceiling, one that requires a Bachelor's of anything from almost anywhere to go higher. She has many ideas on that new contract with a major carrier, but she's not invited to the meetings. "John" is handling it.
"John" is deadwood, but "Marcia" is the one considered unpromotable at this mythical but all-too-representative company. The difference? Sheepskin. The truth? You don't really need to go to college to succeed. Bill Gates is but one of many, many CEO's with some or no college. Steven Spielberg eventually earned his B.A., but he directed and produced many memorable films first.
So why do so many companies require that B.A. or B.S. whether job-related or not? I think mostly because a high school diploma just isn't worth much anymore. They are readily granted, even to semi-illiterates lest we hurt their self-esteem or the school's reputation. Employers have to go up a level to at least a two year degree just to thin the herd of applicants all waving their high school diplomas. If nothing else, you filter out or correct those reported 30% of freshmen needing remedial work in English or Mathematics.
Have a look at this MPR piece on the subject. At Century College, 87 percent of their students need remedial math.
"I've never read a full book before," says college student Josephine Kuntz. "You go through high school you can get away with it. When you get to college, it's like you gotta do it."
Mitch is right, we need to return to the days when all educational opportunities are on the table.