Posted on 05/04/2005 8:15:16 AM PDT by qam1
Xer Ping
Ping list for the discussion of the politics and social (and sometimes nostalgic) aspects that directly effect Gen-Reagan/Generation-X (Those born from 1965-1981) including all the spending previous generations (i.e. The Baby Boomers) are doing that Gen-X and Y will end up paying for.
Freep mail me to be added or dropped. See my home page for details and previous articles.
Four years in the military after high school will not only help pay for college, it will grow a kid up enough to be serious about it when he/she gets there.
So much depends on where you send them to college, what they study (and if they study), and other non-school-related factors. I think I was well-prepared for work when I graduated, but I didn't spend all of my time at frat parties like many people do. I had fun, but I did the work, too. My parents and I didn't spend upwards of $100,000 for me to go to a big-name school, yet I am now working with (and earning the same amount as) many people with huge student debt. And I had a strong background from my parents that prepared me to think logically and work hard, no matter what else I learned at college. College is important and necessary for certain careers, and plenty of people in my generation have come out of college with legitimate knowledge and skills.
Right on!
(wadever happened to: Half the peole you meet today are BELOW average?)
And we wonder why even college grads can't write a paragraph??????
Depends on what you do with the year. Spending another year living off mom and pop isn't going to make a kid more mature.
If I had teen-age kids I'd seriously push them towards trade school if they had no career plans that required a college degree. I graduated from college in '98 (I was an older returning student) and I can honestly say that at least 50% (probably more) of the students at my alma mater had no business being in there.
I went on to college but neither of my children did. I find that they are very late to the organization/discipline/structure part of "life". Just my personal observation.
There's nothing wrong with a surplus of English majors if they are taught something worth learning in their major. A good background in English Lit is a great way to learn how to think. Exposure to the liberal arts is what education was supposed to be about at one time. I'm sorry we've gotten away from it. The problem is what is now being taught. Too often, it's not really worth anything. A real national, cultural and societal tragedy. I have a daughter in college and I'm glad she's there. But she's living at home and that gives us a chance to deal with the junk she occasionally has to put up with. And we're not paying tuition. If we were, I might think differently. I would send her to community college. I've taken classes there and some are excellent.
Not true in our family. We don't pop for College
Tuition unless the kiddoe knows of two possible
vocations he/she's interested in. And they sign
up for those courses after basics are finished.
Have a grandson now finishing his Junior year at
ASU Flagstaff. He played football through high
school and his Freshman year at college. Then
he decided to go into Sports Physical Therapy.
A great choice. He's already completed all his
Science requirements and several therapy courses.
He'll stay one extra year picking up a double
Masters in that field along with History. And
do his student teaching. He expects to start
out teaching High School with Social Studies/Sports
Coach Asst/Therapist. His goal is to get into the
Collegiate Sports Arena. Sounds like a Plan to me!
It's true re your statement about many kids not
having a clue as to what they want to do. But
that in part is the parents fault. Too often
they send their child off to college on the premise
"he will find himself." That happened years ago
in Kindergarten! At today's tuition prices, he'd
better damn well show more enthusiasm about his
potential slots in life.
I agree with that.
That's why I are becoming an enginerd. I'm good with math, like science, and have an oh-so-sparkling personality. :-) That, and a semi-twisted mind helps, too.
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