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I tend to think that our society should move in the other direction. I see the need for college degrees and certifications as a form of caste system which limit

by logn 11y ago

I tend to think that our society should move in the other direction. I see the need for college degrees and certifications as a form of caste system which limits upward mobility and increases cost of living. I would like to see education and certification added to the list of qualities on which you're not allowed to discriminate (like race/creed/etc already are). I think the VW case can be partially solved by handing out indictments to everyone involved, CEO down to engineer. Working in a corporation does not excuse criminal behavior. Similarly, I don't think making Financial Engineer a thing would do anything to head off the next financial collapse and reign in excessive risk taking on the part of the banks.

superuser2 11y ago
Education only resembles a caste system because its availability is heritable. The quality of public education depends on the income characteristics of the geographical location you're born into; the quality of higher education depends on the disposable income of your parents (except at the most elite schools with full need-based scholarships for middle-class students). I'd rather see us abandon the bizarre notion that education is in any way a parental or local responsibility. It should be federally controlled with uniform quality for every student and differentiations that make sense (on natural talent, effort, and specializations chosen) rather than those based on parentage. Good education gives you a better understanding of what you're doing and the context of the world, people, and systems you're doing it to. Of course it makes a difference, and it should be available to everyone.
krschultz 11y ago
It's not discrimination if you can change it. The difference between someone with a college degree and without is the work they put in. That seems like a pretty reasonable thing to base a hiring decision on. Your suggestion is like saying 'you shouldn't be able to discriminate based on work experience'. The difference is college is 4 years of reading books and taking tests vs 4 years of writing code. You can argue which one is more valuable / relevant / useful, but they're just different kinds of experience. Not allowing that in a hiring decision is flat out unworkable.
- logn 11y ago
  You can also change your religion, marital status, and parental status. Those are all protected from discrimination. College isn't just a matter of putting in work. It's a matter of putting in money. That is the clear dividing line versus work experience.

by logn 11y ago

superuser2 11y ago

Education only resembles a caste system because its availability is heritable. The quality of public education depends on the income characteristics of the geographical location you're born into; the quality of higher education depends on the disposable income of your parents (except at the most elite schools with full need-based scholarships for middle-class students). I'd rather see us abandon the bizarre notion that education is in any way a parental or local responsibility. It should be federally controlled with uniform quality for every student and differentiations that make sense (on natural talent, effort, and specializations chosen) rather than those based on parentage. Good education gives you a better understanding of what you're doing and the context of the world, people, and systems you're doing it to. Of course it makes a difference, and it should be available to everyone.

krschultz 11y ago

It's not discrimination if you can change it. The difference between someone with a college degree and without is the work they put in. That seems like a pretty reasonable thing to base a hiring decision on. Your suggestion is like saying 'you shouldn't be able to discriminate based on work experience'. The difference is college is 4 years of reading books and taking tests vs 4 years of writing code. You can argue which one is more valuable / relevant / useful, but they're just different kinds of experience. Not allowing that in a hiring decision is flat out unworkable.

logn 11y ago
You can also change your religion, marital status, and parental status. Those are all protected from discrimination. College isn't just a matter of putting in work. It's a matter of putting in money. That is the clear dividing line versus work experience.