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Personally.... I'm not sure the college education is that important anymore. (I am degreed btw) But, my hot water heater went out the other day. I changed it myself because the plumber wanted $600 labor to do the job. I did it in 3 hours and I don't do it every day. The plumber is a very nice guy, who stays busy by getting young college graduates making $300 per day... or old people making $1200 per month..... to pay him $600 to change their water heater.

If money is the goal and the measure of success, then I am a living example of how education can be a positive hindrance. What's at issue here is not money per se, but what it takes to become part of the cognitive elite, and for one's children to belong to it. The money comes later, if at all.

The smart kids will still be able to compete for the high-paying plumber jobs if they so choose. The not-so-smart kids won't be getting the high-paying surgeon jobs, regardless.

Nobody will be getting the high-paying physicist jobs, because there is no such thing. :-)