A COLLEGE EDUCATION...NOT WORTH THE BIG BUCKS -- The High Price of Campus Political Correctness!

ICONOCLAST ^ | By Wendy McElroy

[clintonbaiter]

Parents should read two new reports on education before sending children onto a campus in North America. What passes for education at many universities is not merely an intellectual embarrassment; it is also tremendously expensive. Fortunately, there is good news for the future: a spotlight is now shining on the problems, and students in the near future may receive the quality education for which their parents pay, both through tuition and taxes.

The first study, Death of the Liberal Arts? was released last month by the Independent Women's Forum. Melana Zyla Vickers examined the curricula of the top ten liberal arts colleges as ranked by the authoritative U.S. News and World Report. She concluded, "Even at the best...freshmen can't obtain a sound education in history, literature, and other fundamentals of civilization."

Some of the knowledge that freshmen will not find includes any course on Shakespeare at Bowdoin, any overview of American history at Amherst, and any overview of any literary period at Swarthmore. Meanwhile, freshmen at William College can explore such esoteric areas as an English course on "man's desire...to take, order, idealize and copy nature's bounty while humanizing, plundering and destroying the environment" -- even though there is no comprehensive course in history.

Only three colleges offer students "a course that could roughly be termed Western Civilization." Only three receive a "pass". That is, they provide a comprehensive introduction to English, History, and Political Science, which constitute the basics of a Liberal Arts education.

Yet the cost for a freshman to graduate from one of the "top ten" could run as high as $120,000.

A second report, Trends in College Pricing 2003 -- issued by College Board, a non-profit schools association -- states, "college tuition and fees increased an average of $579 at four-year public institutions, $1,114 at four-year private institutions, and $231 at two-year public institutions" in 2002.

Most students will pay less tuition than listed in catalogues but their parents, as taxpayers, will still be foot the bill. The report explains, "Almost 60 percent of undergraduates receive some form of financial aid to help them pay for college." In that regard, 2002 to 2003 saw a record amount of student financial aid -- $105 billion.

Although a significant amount went to student loans that are supposed to be repaid, "over $40 billion of [non-repayable] grant aid was distributed to college students by federal and state governments and by colleges and universities."

Using research from the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES), Neal McCluskey of Cato Institute offers the ratio of tax to private funding. "More than half of public universities' revenues -- $79 billion -- were extracted directly from federal, state, and local taxpayers, while only 18.5 percent came from student fees and tuition."

For good reason, an increasing number of parents are questioning whether the money -- public or private -- is well used.....

[Carry_Okie]

Unless one comes from the highest reaches of inherited wealth (and possibly even then) it is impossible to achieve upper-middle class or higher social status in America without a degree from a "good" college or university.

Bill Gates is a college drop-out.

[Carry_Okie]

I'll tell you the easiest way to save money. Home educate the child. My eleven year old starts college calculus this month.

[ladylib]

If more parents would homeschool, think of the school taxes everyone would save.

[ladylib]

The man who started Virgin Airlines quit school at 14, which was legal in England at the time.

If you're smart and entrepreunurial why should you sit in a classroom and be bored to death?

[Red Boots]

Parents and students have to ask themselves if it is really worth putting themselves into thousands of dollars of debt for joke courses like this. We've asked that question and the answer is NO ! We'd rather give them each the money to buy a house or some other asset. Anything they need to learn ( outside of hard engineering/science or medicine)they can take through private online colleges, like the University of Phoenix. So far, our children agree with this approach. They want to become self-made business men like their Dad. Why waste 4 years and 50,000 dollars for left-wing indoctrination ? You can get just about any course online. I think the internet will be the end of the ivory tower.

[ladylib]

I agree. The internet will change education forever in this country -- from grammar school all the way through graduate school.

As a high school student interested in history, who do you want to teach you American history, the football coach who really has no other interest except football, or a historian?

Would you rather have a biologist teach you biology or someone who took a few science courses in college and a lot of ed courses?

Some public schools are savvy enough to see the writing on the wall. A lot of kids just don't want to attend a bricks and mortar school (and for as many reasons as there are students), so schools are developing on-line courses in order to get that state and federal funding in order to survive.

Just think. You'll be able to learn anything at any time with anyone you want to teach you anywhere in the world.

[aquila48]

bump for later read

[Carry_Okie]

Just think. You'll be able to learn anything at any time with anyone you want to teach you anywhere in the world.

Considering that people will tend to buy educational products reflecting only their pre-existing beliefs, it's going to become an increasingly divided world.

[Amerigomag]

Send your kids to junior colleges for their associate's .. and then transfer them ..

The best piece of advice on this thread.

Not only a tremendous savings but also lessens the academic requirements for entry, provides a more gradual transition to independence, escapes the brunt of the liberal indoctronation that exists in most general education classes and introduces your child to fellow, upper division students who are there to educate themselves.

[Red Boots]

You are so right. I know so many tradesmen who never went to college, in fact, were totally ignored by the "smart people", who would probably have been voted "most likely NOT to suceed", who have built fine businesses all by themselves, through hard work, determination and sheer courage. I am lucky enough to have been married to one for 23 years. When we met ( I was 17, he was 19 ), he drove a delivery truck. Today, he owns and runs a highly technical construction company and is very sucessful. Sometimes in the office, we look at each other and laugh," Pretty good for a couple of dumb-f**ks!"

[Copernicus]

it is impossible to achieve upper-middle class or higher social status in America without a degree from a "good" college or university.

I believe neither Bill Gates nor Rush Limbaugh completed their College Education.

Best regards,

[ladylib]

What makes some parents choose a religious education for their children, or a liberal classical education for their children, or a public magnet school with a science theme, or a public school with a performing arts theme?

What's wrong with choice even if it's based on pre-existing beliefs and wants?

Do you think everyone should be forced into a one-size fits all educational system?

[Rebelbase]

"Make sure your kid is a spoiler in any BS class they have to take. Turn that child into a heat-seeking missile"

Easier said than done. My kid has been on the losing end of an academic fued that started by his correcting the teacher one too many times. It stinks that the academics have the upper hand but a kid has to figure out how to survive in the environment.

[Carry_Okie]

What makes some parents choose a religious education for their children, or a liberal classical education for their children, or a public magnet school with a science theme, or a public school with a performing arts theme?

What's wrong with choice even if it's based on pre-existing beliefs and wants?

Do you think everyone should be forced into a one-size fits all educational system?

Please don't put words in my mouth. I didn't say there was anything intrinsically wrong with free choice. If I did why would I be home-schooling?

I just said it was a natural and expectable outcomes to allowing parents to select any kind of education they desire. Let's take your list and broaden it a little to reflect reality:

What makes some parents choose a Madrassas (Fundamentalist Islamic religious education) for their children, or a pagan animist envirowack education for their children (they have them here in Santa Cruz), or a gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender school (Harvey Milk anyone?), or a school teaching prostitution as a theme (we're close)? Do you think those extremes are impossible? I beg to differ.

I don't pretend to know how best to resolve the need for both individual choice and a nation sharing values by which we can at least get along. I agree that public schools have been a disaster, but there needs to be a way to assure that public funds don't go to schools that teach (for example) the violent overthrow of the Constitution and the institution of Sharia law.

[wizardoz]

Yes, it has to be done right. A student can't say "You're wrong! It's like this..." because that'll just tick off the professor. You have to phrase it like "On the other hand, there are those who point out that Switzerland has far more guns per person, and a far lower homicide rate than Great Britain."

I'm a champion at the polite but insistent "it could also be said" and "and yet a Yale study suggests" and "however, it has also been shown" and "how do we reconcile this with the opposing evidence that"... I often use "we" when everyone know full well I mean "You putz". But if you do it right, they can't take umbrage without looking like a bully.

Of course, I was a grad student for 5 years (I recently abandoned a Ph.D. program in disgust) so I've had a lot of experience using their language.

[speekinout]

Unless one comes from the highest reaches of inherited wealth (and possibly even then) it is impossible to achieve upper-middle class or higher social status in America without a degree from a "good" college or university.

Not really true. One of the important things about a "good" college or university is the networking ties you get there. Upper echelon universities have good connections, but they also have more graduates looking to take advantage of them.

Look at smaller schools, but do look for bios of the alumni. If you find a small, but not so expensive, college that has some distinguished alumni in a field you'd like to pursue, you can have the best of all worlds.

[ladylib]

What makes some parents choose a Madrassas (Fundamentalist Islamic religious education) for their children, or a pagan animist envirowack education for their children (they have them here in Santa Cruz), or a gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender school (Harvey Milk anyone?), or a school teaching prostitution as a theme (we're close)? Do you think those extremes are impossible? I beg to differ.

I never said those extremes were impossible. In fact, when I think of educational choice, I don't even think of schools that advocate prostitution, or witchcraft, or Islam. However, I don't think a school would last long if it promulgated prostitution, because prostitution is against the law in most states except in certain circumstances, Nevada, and even there, there are child welfare laws in place that would not permit it.

As far as schools teaching paganism, that's allowed. If parents want their kids to go to a fundamental Islamic school and that school doesn't advocate the forceful overthrowing of our government, that's allowed too. Harvey Milk is allowed because homosexuality is not a crime anymore.

Homeschooling is allowed and with it all different types of curriculum from traditional to unschooling.

Parents have the right to choose whatever education they want for their kids as long as it conforms to broad guidelines and isn't detrimental (or illegal) to their kids' welfare (like a school of prostitution) or dangerous (such as a radical Islamic school that teaches its students to kill the infidels).

[RLK]

"Make sure your kid is a spoiler in any BS class they have to take. Turn that child into a heat-seeking missile" Easier said than done. My kid has been on the losing end of an academic fued that started by his correcting the teacher one too many times. It stinks that the academics have the upper hand but a kid has to figure out how to survive in the environment.

-------------------------------

At the graduate school at a major state universitymI went to there was a gut level rating system. Toward the end of the year each and all students would be reviewed under a gut level approval or disapproval system without professors needing to justify their opinion. If your gut level ratings were low you were terminated without chance for appeal. It didn't pay to offend anybody in any way. There are variation on this at many schools.

[LindaHarr]

Hi,
You are right that parents and kids go to a college often just not to miss out on being near higher class possible friends, contacts and spouses.
I have told my children this: I did not have any money, only debt after graduating from out-of-state college. My college friends lived all over the US and the world. I couldn't afford to go to their weddings. Well, you can't keep friendships that way! If you graduate from University with tons of debt, you can't afford whatever your new high class friends have in mind...meeting up in the Bahamas, going to their wedding in Tuscany...the high cost of Univerities has totally changed my mind on their worth.
LindaHarr

[RightOnline]

"...a college degree is a credential absolutely required in this society for further education and/or jobs (other than sales)..."

These days, in order to get a good sales position (in high tech, etc.), you'll find that you need a college degree. Sign of the times. Take it from one who has spent many, many years in just that.......high-tech sales.