The United States is still the world's superpower in many ways, but not in percentages of people with college degrees anymore. Click here to read an op-ed piece from the New York Times about this issue, and then address one or more of the following prompts:There are many causes for the statistics on college degrees in this article. Describe the ones you think are the most important.
How might the U.S. having lower percentages of college grads than other developed nations impact our country?
What solutions can you think of to solve this problem and increase our college graduation numbers?
16 comments:
Did you know that Harvard, in 1970,only cost "$4,070, which was less than half of the median family income, then $9,870"? Now, "Harvard College’s current annual price tag amounts to nearly two-thirds of the median household income in the United States, which was $65,093 in 2006 according to the US Census Bureau."
http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2006/10/25/tuition-increase-outpaces-inflation-tuition-hikes/
I think I know a bit about this topic... you know... given my history. I believe that education is one of society's greatest equalizers. When only a small part of the American (or any society's) population recieves education to the best degree available, then those few people have a hand on top of those who do not. Exploitation is wrong-- everyone agrees with that. But how is forcing someone to go into a staggering amount of debt to start their lives properly. Sure, people 'have the choice between private and public', but either way- you're paying WAY more (sometimes 833% more) than you would if you were an American student somewhere else! Our system isn't working for us, so WHO is it working for?
Look at these tuition rates for American students in the world's best universities across the world (Ms. Stotler, you already saw this...)
Australia
-Australian National University, Australia (16)- $13,142- $14,688
Austria
-University of Vienna, Austria (115)- $970
Finland
-University of Helsinki (91)- $0
Holland
-Maastricht University, Holland (111)- $10,126.40
Ireland
-Trinity College of Dublin (49)- $542.32- $27,115.90
New Zealand
-Auckland University, New Zealand (65)- $5,494- $27,744
Norway
-Oslo University, Norway (177)- $0 (entry fee of about $65)
Sweden
-Lund University, Sweden (88)- $0
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
-University of Bath, United Kingdom(152) - $13,550
-Cambridge University, United Kingdom (3)- $13,500
-University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (23)- $14,422
-University of Glasgow, United Kingdom (73)- $13,573- $15,000
-Oxford University, United Kingdom (4)- $14,230
-Southampton University, England (99)- $13,340
The United States of America
-Brown University, United States (27) - $36,928
-Harvard University, United States (1)- $36,173
-Duke University, United States (13)- $34,900
-Princeton University, United States (12)- $33,000
-University of Virginia, United States (96)-$29,790
THIS is WITHOUT room and board.
And my solution for solving our problem is to MAKE a tuition cap, just like the British have. They apply it to both foreign-enrolling students and domestic-enrolling. Two different numbers that the offices of even the greatest, most prestigious universities have to abide by. Some Americans have the illusion that doing this will cause a decrease in the amazing research outputs-- or the number of awe-inspiring professors that a university will have. This is very un-true, as Oxford, Cambridge, Glasgow, and so many foreign universities have already proved. I think the cap should be what the IRS or some other government bureau claims to be what the average, middle-class family can pay annually. The FAFSA is a messed-up system, one that people are forced to go to because the private sector of universities and higher education has decided that unless you have tons of money or ridiculously good skills (academic or athletic)-- you don't deserve an education. Either through student loans, federal Stafford loans, or your parents pockets. I also agree with the British in that payments of loans should not start until the student is earning an income above a certain point. Some American banks start sending bills as soon as the student graduates, or even to the co-signer WHILE the student is still in college.
Not having a college-educated public at large is a re-play of the Dark Ages, those who are un-educated will be puppeted by those who are, and exploited by their low education... it is, quite simply, wrong.
And it will result (and already has started to) in no/minimal social mobility for multiple generations. People will be forced to stay in their same class because they CAN'T break through the barriers. We tore down those barriers, opened up universities to more than those who were rich and had connections... even let in women, NOW we are working in reverse. Slowly resorting back to the system America had in the early 1800s... where the rich stayed rich and the poor stayed poor.
I know I've cited it before... but I sincerely love this bit of research.
http://cep.lse.ac.uk/about/news/IntergenerationalMobility.pdf
Sorry for how long it is... but I won first place at the state fair in Economics on this topic! Couldn't resist...
The fall of america from the summit of leadership, education, and overall intelligence does not surprise me. The nation is not falling due to a dependence of useless details like John and Kate and Lindsay, but instead are becoming slaves to themselves. There is an old phrase used as a memento mori in olden days, "Vanity of vanitites, all is vanity." We have become slaves to vanity. The need to have things bigger and better with less work is rampant.
We are now dependent upon technology to do all our work and thinking. I myself am an owner of a netbook, a smartphone, and a television. I can feel my IQ drop, the need to retain information is falling, and people know it. Why should we learn when we can just look it up? This attitude is decimating the education system.
The drop in the want to inhibit any semblance of work has resulted in a drop in attendance, the drop in attendance a raise in tuition, and the raise in tuition a further drop in attendance. In this day and age both the benefits and downsides of a free market become obvious, and the need for expansion of understanding and resources increased. Indeed as technology become more of a brain to us then our own minds more issues will spring up as we descend into our own minds and closed up thoughts, like a man who believes in solipsism we will all fall to the belief we are the only truth.
To me, I find that the biggest problem with these scary numbers are the fact that these are the people who will have to step-up and run the nation for 10-20 years before the next generation comes along. BUT, if this problem isn't fixed, it can only be predicted that it'll get progressivly worse.
Also, after looking at the dramatic price differences in college tuition among the nations, it's obvious that we are charging way to much for a college education. In our economy, it's hard enough keeping food on the table, let alone paying $30,000+ for and out-of-state elite college. I don't know how we fix it. But I do know that we need to find a way, or things will get darker.
First of all, news channels need to stop reporting about stuff that isn't relevant for today's problems. They could leave that to E! News. Next, the government could let the news enlighten and educate people more. You'd think since they controlled the media it'd be a little more intelligent. Unfortunately, most parents don't tell kids what they need to know about life. If kids learn more from the news, parents, and teachers, they'd want to help better themselves. They'd realize life isn't easy.
I believe the reason for Americans being 12th among developed nations in the percentage of 25 to 34 year-olds with college degrees is because we as Americans think we are invincable and we like having this handed to us. Let's face it, you have to put in the time to get a job now a days. You cant just walk up to an employer with no GED and expect to get a job. In fact for most salary paying jobs now, you have to have a college degree. Look at public figures like Lindsay Lohan, and the dreaded Kardashians, and popular TV shows like "Sweet 16". All of those figures and people have one thing in common: they all have things handed to them. In America, we are lazy, and we like to be "baby fed".
Its true at our school too. Its sad when we who want to challege ourselves and work hard at something can't do it, because we dont have 15 people in the particular AP class. That is sad, and quite frankly it is embarrassing.
The only way for that number and rate to go up, is for Americans to start working hard, and challenging ourselves more, with higher education. However until that happens, we will be stuck at 12th, or worse.
-Andrew Rickli
I agree with John when he says that we are dependent on technology. Looking something up on my phone or computer is much easier than actually learning it and I think that causes us to not have the disire to learn. Answers are just handed to us through our technology and I think also gives us a less disire to find things out on our own.
I agree with Ashley also when she says that people should not be concerned with useless information about our celebs, in all honesty I believe that the world would be a better place without them so people would realize faster that life isn't always partying and drinking wihtout consequences. If people didn't see stars get away with so much they probably wouldn't try to get away like the people some look up to. America is a place where you can do exactly nothing and have no education at all and be on a television show be a millionare. While others, people who went to school, are struggling in todays economy.
I think that everyone has summed up the two problems that I see. First, the economy has made it almost impossible for the average student to go on and get a college education. No one wants to start life out under a burden of debt. I have already starting shopping around for a college and I am finding it quite frustrating. I have a scholarship through HSTA. Some colleges accept it for both tuition and room and board, others for tuition only. I was offered a golf scholarship for tuition, they will not let me use my HSTA for the room and board protion at that college. To me this seems ridiculous.
The second problem I see is that we as a society have lost that competitive spark. Like my parents always tell me about sports, "No one can want it but you.". We no longer want to be the best, we are just happy to coast along. We are a disposable society, if something seems to be too difficult or require a little bit of effort we decide to take the easy road. Look at the current trend of people who could pay their mortgages defaulting because they bought a house during the inflated market and now it isn't worth what it was at the time of purchase. They made the decision, now they need to accept the consequences of their actions.
This is terrible; the U.S. was once the country that children around the world dreamed of living in. Our society amiss this startling fact continues to take the easy road. We rely on our technology and gadgets to solve our problems and find answers. It's easier for us to just coast along and be lazy, but where does that get us? One thing that always repeats itself in history is that the most advanced culture always has control. Just look at the Native Americans in North America when the Europeans arrived and the Aztec, Maya, and Inca in South America, with the Spaniards. With education scientific advances also come along more frequently. What if the Atom bomb wouldn't have been created by U.S. scientist Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer, but instead by an enemy? We might have been on the losing side of World War II.
Look at our society, once greatness was expected and demanded. Now however mediocrity is ok, in fact tolerated and were striving for less. Having fewer college grads than the rest of the developed world is unacceptable. I can assure you this will only mean MORE imported workers. Foreign workers from other countries will take the jobs of Americans, here at home. That would mean the high unemployment rate would remain high until Americans toughened up and took harder jobs that most don't want. This is simply just unacceptable and can be prevented. More and more doctors and engineers working here are foreign. I can't blame them the pay is better here. Having fewer college grads also means less scientific breakthroughs. The other countries will have better cars, medicine, and higher standards of living.
As for a solution to this problem that will increase our collage graduation rate, I have to agree with Emily. I think our government should issue a federal mandate that sets a limit for the price of a college education based on the average middle class family. This would help take away the burden of large debts that many college students face. If you control the youth you control the future. Getting more young Americans a college degree would only better us for the future. Getting an education is key in society and let's hope we never forget that...
This comes as no surprise to me. Education has fallen rapidly among America's level of priorities. I agree with Bob Herbert when he touches the topic of how Americans of today find meaningless entertainment on television more interesting than their schoolwork. Is this really what the media has done to our brains? Times are changing and technology has transformed our lives. I agree with John Langestein as well, technology has made us lazy! Although, technology plays a big role, it is not all we can blame for this problem. "Everybody is to blame! -Parents, students, the educational establishment, government leaders, the news media", etc. -Bob Herbert.
To find one solution for this problem would only put a dent in the situation. How can we convince colleges to lower tuition, encourage parents to motivate their kids, improve our entire educational system, influence government leaders, and control the media, all at one time? If you ask me, this problem seems very impossible to fix anytime soon. It would take many powerful and helpful hands from all areas to gradually turn these statistics around, back to where they were when America had its priorities in order.
-Brenton Arrington
There are three major problems in America inhibiting us to receiving a good college education.
One: The lack of proper motivation. Going to college is seen only as a road to a job, a way of making money in future, and simply something that everyone else is doing, so why not you too? The point of a college education is to receive a college education. Knowledge was the original goal and should still be the goal. Although times have changed and being properly qualified for a job is important, going to college should be something you do for yourself. It should be a way of learning what your passion is. If students were encouraged to go for themselves now and not for some future they know nothing about, how many more would take the opportunity?
Two: High Pressure. There is so much pressure on the students of today to know who they are, what they want, and where they're going, all by the time they turn 17or 18. I have met adults who've told me that they still don't know what they want to do! Ease off America. Applying the pressure and increasing the stress are not the way to fix the enrollment problem.
Three: Financial overload. Private, four-year colleges charge an average of $26,273 for tuition and fees. How are parents and students supposed to afford that? They can't. That's why no one is going to college anymore. I agree with Emily that a tuition cap should be put in place, and soon. Otherwise we'll be living in a country full of idiots.
Truth: This is a mess, and it is going to take a loooooong time to clean it up. So we better start now.
I agree with Dylan completely. The epic tumble of our economy has a huge impact on our generation and further generations chances of going to college. Children have to be up front with their kids and just say " Hey, you need to have a back up plan because we can't afford for you to go to your dream college." and that just sucks. Also our society has has plummeted down the drain, we are so caught up in the lives of everyone around us and "drama" that we can't focus on our education or make the right choices for the rest of our lives. We need new and positive role models instead of seeing all of our old ones going to rehab, getting put into jail, or dying from a drug over-dose.
I think that with a lower percentage of college graduates we are showing the rest of the world that we are losing are place as a "power". We are supposed to be this great place full of opportunity, but how can we show that if we aren’t that educated? Yes there are many people who have college degrees. But what about the hundreds or thousands of others that don’t have a high school diploma or a GED? If we are more concerned with celebrities then our education how can we expect other countries to take us seriously? We cannot. For the simple fact of the matter is that we are slowly declining as a nation. That is the cold hard truth.
I know it is short, but it does not take many words to get a point across. if you word it correctly
The US having less college degrees than other developed countries can have an enormous impact on our country. It will not only bring down the respect others have for our country but also it will hurt our already damaged economy.
I don't really know of any solutions except making college more accessible to those who want to attend but can't.
-Josh Fox
Everybody is pretty much summing the answer. The cost of college and universities these days are a fortune and many people can't afford to go. We need to find away to get every kid into college and learn a profression.
Another reason why kids aren't learning as much or getting a degree isbecause of our technology is getting in the way. Many kids now a day are either on the computer or playing videos games. They spend the day mainly on that, and don't do much for school or getting ahead.
We need to find a way to bring it up because these are going to the leaders in a couple years from now.
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