A Blow to the College-Industrial Complex

National Review -- The Corner ^ | 12-27-12 | Heather McDonald

[afraidfortherepublic]

The New York Times seems concerned that teens in the fracking belt of eastern Montana are opting to work in the new oil-field economy right after high school rather than going straight on to college. A front-page story warns: Taking a job is “a lucrative but risky decision for any 18-year-old to make, one that could foreclose on his future if the frenzied pace of oil and gas drilling from here to North Dakota to Texas falters and work dries up.”

Let’s see. Where is a teenager more likely to learn the basic and transferable virtue of showing up every day and on time, not to mention how to get along with a boss and fit into an organization — as a communications and binge-drinking double major at Missoula State University, or as a mechanic fixing broken rig equipment?

Too many high-school graduates are reflexively going to college as it is, without a clue what they are doing there or how to take advantage of higher education. Mandatory stints in the private economy before college enrollment could do wonders for study skills. If, by deferring or maybe even skipping college entirely, students were foregoing their one hope for immersion in Western civilization, there would indeed be grounds for regret.

But colleges’ own curricular decisions have long since destroyed their right to present themselves as a gateway for precious knowledge of the past.

[pepperdog]

The college industry will take care of this quickly, they'll develop a degree in roughnecking. They'll promise the kids a lucrative job if only they will spend four years of their lives and obligate themselves to around $100k in student loans studying for this exceptional opportunity.

[EDINVA]

I agree that for the most part it’s too expensive these days to ‘work your way thru,’ but all colleges are not $50K/year, either. A student could go to a community college for two years, get the requirements out of the way, then transfer to a state 4 year university. S/he might still have to take out loans, but they would be relatively low and easily paid off (assuming s/he chose a major that would lead to employability).

[hal ogen]

So that would be around 40 hours per week. That still allows for part time work and some lazing around with friends. As an adult have you ever worked 40 hours per week or more? I don’t see the big deal.

[indthkr]

Indentured Servitude Complex bump for later...

[Alas Babylon!]

Conversly, I remember my high school guidance counselor telling me almost 40 years ago NOT to join the military. She said “Only stupid people do that.” She said I needed to be in college because I was so smart (I am, but that’s another tale ;-)...

Pissed me off enough that I signed up the NEXT DAY.

So I spent 22 years in the USAF. Loved it. Learned so many different things. Got to go to college. It took me almost 20 years to earn my degree, but I did it. I could have gotten my degree sooner but I had other things to learn, places in the world to visit, and an important job helping defending OUR country (no thanks needed from you, Mrs Hill).

Now I teach at a University and am so often flabergasted by the stupidity and ignorance of these young kids. They think they’re smart but know nothing, and when confronted wih their ignorance laugh it off as if it was all a big joke anyway.

Maybe it is the ready access to “facts” from the Internet, but many wear their ignorance on their sleeves like a badge of honor.

Frankly, I’d be surprise if 7 out of 100 kids WANTED to learn, rather than get a sheepskin while partying and then an easy paychheck later.

[SauronOfMordor]

It would make more sense to have high school end at 10th grade. Those students who pass a test of basic literacy and math could go on to “junior college”, consisting of what is now grades 11,12 and the first year of college. Those who demonstrate an ability to do college work could go on from there.

[Osage Orange]

Good for her!!

You must have done a few things right!! : )

[afraidfortherepublic]

If his wife’s PhD in Spanish comes with any facility in the language, she could get a teaching job at a University. Often those jobs come with tuition forgiveness for the children, so that is how she could get her son through college.

[lacrew]

Well you are correct - her ultimate goal is to become a University professor....not sure what else she could possibly do with a PHD in Spanish, really.

I have not heard of a free ride for the children of professors...

I looked it up. It definitely looks like it used to be commonplace; but, it also looks like its use is on the decline - particularly in state schools. I can see that...as a taxpayer, I’m not too keen on adding another $15-$20k to an employee’s compensation, in the form of reduced tuition for his/her kid.

I looked it up in my state (Kansas). Most of the larger schools in the state are governed by one board (Board of Regents) and have similar rules. It looks like in both 2004 and 2010, they set up a ‘task force’ to explore implementing this...but it hasn’t gone into place yet.

That doesn’t really matter though. Its beyond my simpleton mind to comprehend; but, apparently if one spends almost a quarter million dollars getting a degree at KU, it is impossible (laughable to consider) to get a job at the same KU...so she’s going to have to do a nationwide job search. It would make sense to seek out universities that pffer the free tuition.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Free, or reduced, tuition for the children of college professors is a perk commonly offered in private universities.

[Little Ray]

I like your ideas.
There are an awful lot of good plumbers that retire as millionaires and they earned every penny. We need no more skilled labor and less “Do you want fries with that?” degrees.

[EDINVA]

I don’t know how it is today, but for a very long time there was reciprocity among the ‘elite’ schools for professors’ children to get the same deal if they chose another school in that circle. I.e. a Harvard prof’s kid could get free tuition (or enormously reduced) at Williams, or Penn, and vice versa.

I have friends whose spouses work for local universities. Two are at private universities, one at a VA state school. Guess which doesn’t offer the kids half off the tuition?

[thackney]

I would have had to average over 19 hours in class per week. Each of those hours required 2 to 3 hours outside of class for an A~B average.

So that would be around 40 hours per week

Try that math again.

19 hours in class. Plus 38~57 hours outside of class. Total hours required: 57~76 hours per week.

[hal ogen]

If getting a degree is “worth it”, then that effort is “worth it”. (my inadequate math aside)

[P.O.E.]

Back in my corporate days, they’d load up some job descriptions with all kinds of non-essential stuff, just to be able to pick and choose candidates without legal recourse, or to “wire” a job for someone.