WTF 101
Posted
November 1, 2006 at
10:05 pm by
Amy
Tonight I took my daughter to the library to work on her homework. While she hunkered down with the library’s copy of the science textbook she left at school, I perused the shelves nearby.
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul, The Teen’s Guide to Making Lists, and then, on the shelf right next to What To Do With Your Life If You Like Little Kids (which I?‚? assumed was not a step by step guidebook for pervs) was a series of books entitled Careers You Don’t Need College For. Included in this series was, Careers You Don’t Need College For If You Like…Fashion; Careers You Don’t Need College For If You Like…Cars; Careers You Don’t Need College For If You Like…Art.
And it struck me as odd. Right there in the library, the place for books and learning, was book after book on how to get ahead WITHOUT higher education.?‚?
I’m well aware that not everyone can afford a college education and that not everyone is “college material.”?‚? To me, the mere title of these books would evoke a sense of relief in a beleagured student looking for a “pass” on the halls of more learning.?‚? These are the ethics and ideals we want to pass along to the tail end of Gen Y??‚? No wonder they’re having problems keeping up with Generation X.
I know plenty of sucessful and smart people who did not go to college, but that was years ago. I also know that it is possible to start at the bottom and work your way up to the top.?‚? But that kind of luck is unlikely and that kind of determination is not found around every corner.
Today it’s hard to get a job WITH a college education.?‚? It’s harder and harder to raise a family and make ends meet for most people.?‚? So espousing the possible virtues of skipping the step that might lead to more opportunities and possibilities seems ridiculous to me.?‚?
My kids get to make a lot of choices, but whether or not to pursue education and career goals after high school is not one of them.?‚? In our family you go to college no matter what, you find yourself later, you figure out your major and place in the scheme of things along the way.?‚? And yes, I know that every family is different.
I’m not in favor of book censorship, but I am in favor of good judgement.?‚? And it seems like the population that utilizes the Youth Department of our town’s library would be better served by books that inspire, encourage and motivate kids to pursue as much education as they can.
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Tags: Education |
3 Responses to “WTF 101”
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1. molly said:
November 2, 2006 @ 11:45 pm
My 19 yr. old daughter told me, last year, in the middle of her freshman year of college, that she was considering going to trade school. I told her that after finishing college she could do as she pleased, but she was, indeed, going to finish college. Carpentry would have to wait till she had her undergrad degree in psychology, or whatever else she chose.
Then she told me that her best friend in college, a boy, was dropping out to spend his life helping the poor and underpriviledged. I asked her how he could help them when he had just condemned himself to becoming one of them.
My youngest daughter, 15, is enamored of all the teen music sensations who come along and imagines herself one of them. I tell her, fine, you can become a poor musician and live in your car after you go to college and get your degree. I tell her that all the musicians she admires had parents who told them to go to college, just in case the whole music thing didn’t work out. It’s an uphill battle, but I plan on winning.
My kids will both have their undergrad degrees paid for by mom and dad. I tell them to enjoy their last years of freedom. Go to school, study, party, have fun, enjoy. It’s their last opportunity to sponge off mom and dad and it’s all work and responsibility after that. Even kids of relative priviledge don’t always get it.
2. Jessica Carlson said:
November 3, 2006 @ 11:32 am
I’m going to defect from the popular opinion here and say something that I personally don’t think many people have the courage to say out loud — I think too many people go to college today.
I think college degrees are becoming increasingly meaningless, other than you have to have one to get a position with any fortune 500 or 1000 company. We are losing our electricians, plumbers, mechanics and wood-workers.
It’s not only that not everyone can afford college, that’s secondary in my mind. Not everyone should go to college. We are in need of more specialty skilled workers and not just those who can attend “who can drink the most beer” parties on the weekends and maintain a C average in some mediocre state school.
I predict that in the future, it will be the plumbers that make more money and will be in higher demand that people like me, with a college degree that meant nothing after my first job. Just my opinion.
3. SewingSiren said:
November 4, 2006 @ 7:51 pm
Jessica,
I agree with you 100%.