...College Graduates Lack Skills for White-Collar Jobs...
It's Porn, I tell ya.
LOL
gee, ya mean all that liberal education doesn’t prepare them to hold any position outside of the welfare line?
i’m shocked
Hence, the widespread following of he Global Warming fallacy.
However, that same 40% does have the skills necessary to become successful basement dwellers and Guy Fawkes mask wearing protesters.
At least they’re getting better the longer they’re in school.
In many schools indoctrination and inculcation in liberalism is the real goal rather than Socratic teaching and the development of critical thinking skills. Legions of leftist professors make a very good living molding minds and attitudes to conform to liberal orthodoxy. Its a scam of the first order.
Logic is no longer a required college course, nor is rhetoric or debate. These are the courses you would find logical fallacies and argument skills. Real science courses would be good for scatter graphs.
But let me tell you that most schools don’t teach this. And for someone who took these courses, its very hard to read any newspaper, even the New York Times. It’s not that the Times is wrong (I think it generally is). It’s that they don’t know how to write a logical argument.
And the more worrisome part of this situation is that readers don’t know the difference, because they do not know what a logical fallacy is. They don’t mind the Times use of specifics that are assumed to be general with words like “many” instead of “most”. The Times can sell papers and get readers. But they are not saying anything worth reading.
The Wall Street Journal from the 1990’s was the last general newspaper that required logical arguments. I don’t know of one newspaper today that requires a logical argument. The Journal, since News Corp bought it and changed the editorial staff, does not write logical arguments like they used to.
Do not think that this is a left or right thing. Both sides argue horribly. Reading a newspaper is like reading sports columns now. Logic and truth is less important than pursuasive fallacies.
You can Google a list of the classic logical fallacies. The list seems to have grown a bit in the past 30 years. I like the older lists. New entries are normally repeats of other entries. Logical fallacies are arguments that sound persuasive but are logically inert. If you take one course in logic it desensitizes you to false arguments.
It’s possible that the lack of logic in writing has a purpose. In business today, and this includes the media, there are few rewards for fact finding. But the requirement for reams of verbiage that sounds professional has never been greater. If students are taught to write logically, and told the difference between an argument that says nothing (Bullshit) and an argument that actually describes a few facts and makes a logical inference, they will be hindered by a standard of quality that nobody can see anymore. So the smarter graduate would be held back by his higher quality. Although society needs quality and truth, its not asking for it.
Probably in excess of 39% of college students (even excluding “scholar athletes”) should never be in a university in the first place. Licensed plumbers, electricians, carpenters, etc. are more important in the cogs of society and will make more money than a lot of these kids with fluff degrees and plus $100 k student loans hanging over their heads.
My guess would be if you administer the same test to College Professors, they would probably test the same if not worse.
When I was actively interviewing for high level engineering jobs I had to take tests. I’m 60 and before two years ago never once took a test. My engineering degree and MBA along with an impressive resume and an interview did the trick. I was informed by my headhunter that most of his clients were doing the tests. What was tested? Math, mostly fractions, long division and logic problems. I’d say they topped out at 8th grade, but were mostly grammar school level; also, Reading comprehension, mostly at 8th grade level. One test had me write a few answers and I assume they were checking for coherence, grammar and spelling. The headhunter told me that many of the college graduates failed the tests. Due to grade inflation, social promotion and dilution of the various degrees companies now, rightly, believe that college degrees signify nothing. So, why do students waste $30,000 per year for four years? I’d say education is ripe for a revolution.
Incidentally, another reason for the tests being universally applied is so that the companies can’t be accused of prejudice. My Headhunter told me that one client, who is next door to our historically black college, had failed almost all of the black graduates who applied. However, their personnel turnover dropped by double digits.
So everyone can’t be smarter than average? Is that what they’re saying?
I believe these statistics, and one of the reasons I think Obama’s Community College plan is so ill advised is a lot of students take many remedial credit hours at Community College, just to get to the place where they can qualify for a college course through the placement test.
Way back when (35 years ago) my husband was in a trade that paid excellent money, however, he realized that due to some health issues he couldn’t be in that job for his entire career, so he went back to school. He attended a public tech school (i.e. not one of the private ones whose cost is outrageous) which offered a full time, 2 year degree in Technology. He has advamced far in his profession, and the companies he’s worked for, just as far as those with BA degrees and those with their graduate degrees.
But applying for the same entry level job he started at years ago, with just a tech degree, would not be possible today, the requirements list a college degree is necessary.
Our son earned his Master’s right after finishing his BA. In the end he was glad he did because the entry level job in the company and department where he works lists that as the minimum requirement for jobs in the department (the graduate degree is replacing the bachelor’s in many fields because the bachelor’s has been dumbed down.)
What I’m saying is that today, a tech degree will not allow a white collar worker to get their foot in the door. The Bachelor’s degree is listed as the minimum requirement for jobs that years ago would hire a Tech School grad. My husband does the hiring in his department and he always looks at experience before education, because he believes experience is commensurate with a college degree...unfortunately, many of those hiring do not.
But they can block an interstate by cementing their arms in a barrel of concrete. GENIUS
Well, hire them anyway and give them their 6 weeks off proposed by Obama. /s
I've actually been directly involved marketing-wise with some of these graduates and many of their ideas lack any depth or common sense.
It's obvious we're going in the wrong direction and yet they want more money for education?
Still too high...by design, academia will drive it even lower.
I thought, "Huh? Seriously?"
Logic is no longer taught in HS or college. Grammar and logic teach people to think rationally, coherently and systematically. So the decision to remove them the core curriculum makes perfect sense.
I was browsing the help wanted area of craigslist the other day and couldn’t believe my eyes.
There was an ad for a data entry order taker job.
The employer REQUIRED a two year degree for this.
Unbelieveable.
Considering the quality of liberal ‘professors’ we’re lucky they can read.