Posted on 03/31/2009 6:41:34 AM PDT by reaganaut1
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Obama didn't come right out and say it, but the message is clear: College has become the new high school. Soon after my St. Louis trip I called Enterprise and learned that with a few exceptions for military it hires only college graduates for Lyndsay's position. The ability to multitask and communicate with customers, skills that years ago high schools supplied, are now found almost solely among those with two- or four-year degrees.
To hammer that reality home to high school students, states such as Kentucky and Michigan have moved to raise minimum dropout ages. If you don't make it through high school you've got no chance of acquiring the post-high school credentialing demanded by jobs of the future.
But, as a recent report by the Lumina Foundation summed up, "College attainment rates are rising in almost every industrialized or post-industrialized country in the world, except for the U.S." Lumina's point was the same as Obama's: Eventually, our flat education levels will hurt our international economic competitiveness.
That's true, but it doesn't quite capture the whole picture. Lyndsay renting me a car isn't helping our international competitiveness. Whether your bank teller has a high school degree or a Ph.D. says little about international competitiveness, but it says a lot about economic survival, which is what high school students should care about.
The college-as-high school phenomenon is picking up speed during the recession, with employers having their pick of better-educated workers. A recent Denver Post article captured that nicely: "If I had a light labor job, I'd have a Ph.D. do it," explained a Denver employment agency staffer who had just hired two people with B.A.s to pick up sticks from sidewalks.
(Excerpt) Read more at usnews.com ...
“I never cease to be amazed at how many highly intelligent people I meet who have poor verbal and written communication skills. “
The majority of them have college degrees, which negates your point that college is somehow a minimum entry qualification. Illiteracy of college graduates is a major reason I do not even bother to look at college degrees when considering candidates.
My husband and I are quickly (re)learning all of that. Showing up on time, willing to do even dirty jobs, being respectful, and willing to go above and beyond seem to be the key.
He has been "out of work" for well over a year and we were making ends meet with what we used to call "side jobs." It is getting to the point where we almost have more work than we know what to do with. 95% of it being through word of mouth referrals. More than 10 years ago he walked away from the "home improvement" biz and got himself a coat and tie job, well that's gone now and he's back to jeans and work boots. And I've put away the hose and heels and swing a paintbrush or hammer or shovel right along side of him, when I'm not washing windows or scrubbing toilets.
We've got a child to feed and a mortgage to pay, painting walls or cleaning houses is not beneath either of us.......even in this economy there are still people who want someone else to do it and are willing to pay to get it done properly and in a timely fashion. Apparently folks like my husband and I are hard to find :)
Oh, Mister college man/Air Force man/supervisor man:
I hope you don’t mind me pointing this out, but on your home page
http://www.freerepublic.com/~mikewusaf/
the top map you’ve posted has several countries that have been highlighted in red. Below it is the caption “visited 9 states(sic)(4%)”. Those are actually countries, not states. Just a heads-up.
You took 8 years to get a college degree and are snooty. I wouldn't hire or work for someone like that.
“Really? That’s why most Graduate and PhD candidates are in the 30’s but I wouldn’t expect you to know that.
“
Were we even talking about those degrees?? No, we were not. For a college boy you sure can’t seem to follow a conversation. For the record, a PhD is supposed to be obtained by the age of 27. The fact many get them later in life is of no interest. Oh, and I, too, served my country but I didn’t allow that to be an excuse like you do. Eight years for a bachelor’s degree? Do you even work in the field for which the degree was given? I bet not.
I dropped out of college for personal reasons, however, even if given the chance, I don’t think I will go back. All the little liberal lemmings that infiltrate college campuses and the professors that treat us conservatives like crap have solidified that I will not return. Try having an opinion on a PoliSci class nowadays. You pay all the money to go to school only to be flunked by a professor with a liberal stick up their ass.
But then again, I also have a good job and am good at my job, so I don’t feel the need to go back.
Let's close rank together to keep the freedom to run our businesses according to our individual philosophy. We don't need the government telling us how to run our business, who we can hire, and what careers we are fit to pursue!
Ditto! Old house fever runs in my family, so I actually enjoy the things I can do, but being a petite woman I can't do everything.
You're lucky you fell in love with a carpenter, I hope I do someday! :)
Also Rich DeVos and Jay Van Andel, founders of Amway.
Snooty?
Is that why I had to join the military to pay for my college and work 2 jobs?
Yup, I’m the silver spoon kind. You’ve got me pegged!
I did
Gabz,
We’ve had our differences but I believe you are a respectable hard working American who adapts to their circumstances and perseveres.
Hats off to you and God bless!
Mike
I think this article is an impeachment of the U.S. educational system and its utter failure to prepare our children for life, careers, family, etc. after school. Granted, most of those skills fall upon the family, but even the basics are an utter failure. The 3 R’s are just a long forgotten memory. Now it’s about Nancy’s two mommies and Danny’s two daddies, ad nauseum.
When you have to compare college as equivalent to high school, you know something is wrong. It used to be college took you levels of magnitude deeper into subjects. Now you need a whole bunch of “studies” courses. Gag.
How many graduates know how to compute interest, balance a checkbook, etc.? /~rhetorical question
SZ
LOL!!!!!! I freely admit he was not "what I was looking for" when we met. He was a great "buddy" to have a beer with or go fishing or target shooting, but I wasn't interested in anything other than a "buddy" at the time. I was in the midst of a nasty divorce at the time and except as friends and/or colleagues, men were not on my mind. But, that was 21 years ago, we celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary last month.
Ditto! Old house fever runs in my family, so I actually enjoy the things I can do, but being a petite woman I can't do everything.
Old houses never really ran in my family, but I adore them and hubby grew up in them. I'm no Obamamma amazon type, but at 5'10", I'm not exactly petite either, but I've got my limitations as well. Like, I don't do ladders above the 2nd step. LOL!!!
You’re right, Mike, we have had our differences, however I thank you for the compliment as I realize it is given qith sincerity.
While I disagree with your position regarding a college degree here, I also respect the fact that you are free to choose who you wish to hire (legal requirements of course being met ;D ) and will defend your right to do so.
“We need machinists, nurses, and other skilled/technical disciplines more than college graduates. The workforce is overpopulated with college graduates with little to no skills”
While I agree with your position, I do want to point out that nurses ARE college graduates.
Not everywhere and not always.
How many graduates know how to compute interest, balance a checkbook, etc.? /~rhetorical question
My 5th grader can, and so can most of her classmates.
Broadbrush generalizations aren't such a good idea, are they?
Oh I’m fine with ladders as long as I don’t have to haul the sheetrock! Or the glass (skylights, windows, chandeliers). I can climb but not carry.
In other words, built like a kangaroo — great legs, skimpy arms. :D
ps: And I really hate basements!
I’m afraid of heights........
Well, I’m not exactly afraid of heights, I’m afraid of falling.........
But I guess I’m not really afraid of falling, I’m afraid of that sudden stop........
Well, enough fun for me for a while. I need to get out to the greenhouse and get everything watered, check on the momma cat and her new batch of kittens, and then get back to doing taxes.....GRRRRRRR
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