5 ms·

There is absolutely no problem getting a higher degree—say in literature—and also becoming a plumber. You can study history and become a bricklayer. What is d

There is absolutely no problem getting a higher degree—say in literature—and also becoming a plumber. You can study history and become a bricklayer. What is definitely wrong and abhorrent is the expectation that: 1) one is worthy of a so called “white collar” job 2) that a college degree requires full-time study and a campus. May I also note that there are such a thing as higher trades—for example, engineering, architecture, medicine and law. You are not studying some abstract concept when you study the above 4. You are preparing yourself to take an exam and be qualified to practice a trade. The rest of the degrees? Open them up. Wish all of us would study minimum history and had awareness of different structures of government. To me, its so sad that Americans can’t place the specialness of their country in context and protect that which makes it unique in this world—jury duty. A plumber, a bricklayer and a cook need to know that as well as everyone else.

vasco 5y ago
You seem to be under an illusion that most people would attend university for fun if given the chance, whereas coming from a country with free university degrees - isn't the case at all.
- mucholove 5y ago
  Illusion like that I am not. USA: If you’re rich and not particularly interested in the topics, you to to college to meet people. Some Euro: I’ve met many a person who continues to “study” to keep the numerous benefits. Many people just don’t care. That dosen’t stop me from saying my idealistic, and unlikely idea after a word like “should”.
  - vasco 5y ago
    Yeah that's true, I was a bit harsh.
- freeflight 5y ago
  The bottleneck in countries with "free university degrees" is not the cost of university, it's the cost financing your live while studying. For young people with no real financial obligations that's somewhat easy to accomplish. For people in the midst of their lifes, working a regular job, taking care of a family, it can be very difficult to juggle all these obligations at once. Because even when university is "free" it still requires you to invest time.
  - hilbert42 5y ago
    "Because even when university is "free" it still requires you to invest time." That's ever so true. I've been to university over several periods earlier in my life. The first time there were fees but they were manageable by most students (as the Government provided reasonably heavy subsidiaries). By the next time the government had changed and a more enlightened one came in and made all fees (except student union fees) free. This was great for a time until work commitments forced me to stop before I'd finished. Then a little later another government reversed it all and it even went much further - the new fee structure went from free to like $50,000 or even double that for some degrees. Thus, my lack of time caught me out big-time. That said, had I had the slightest notion what was going to happen then I'd definitely have managed to find the time. That's for certain! (I'd not learned the old addage don't put off until tomorrow what one can do today.)
jdasdf 5y ago
> There is absolutely no problem getting a higher degree—say in literature—and also becoming a plumber. There is when you're not the one paying for it.
- mucholove 5y ago
  So I largely agree with you. A university or college degree for topics such as literature, history, gender studies, etc should not be available to you until you have done been certified in a trade (be that bricklaying, medicine, law or engineering) This is why I highlighted that these sorts of degrees don't need to be done on a campus, full-time unless you're willing to pay for that or have been deemed worthy of a scholarship AFTER having completed a vocation. I do think it would be quite awesome to have these available for free again after having achieved skills that are very valuable in the workplace. Kind of like going to a museum or the way Jews can go on a birthright trip.

vasco 5y ago

You seem to be under an illusion that most people would attend university for fun if given the chance, whereas coming from a country with free university degrees - isn't the case at all.

mucholove 5y ago
Illusion like that I am not. USA: If you’re rich and not particularly interested in the topics, you to to college to meet people. Some Euro: I’ve met many a person who continues to “study” to keep the numerous benefits. Many people just don’t care. That dosen’t stop me from saying my idealistic, and unlikely idea after a word like “should”.
- vasco 5y ago
  Yeah that's true, I was a bit harsh.
freeflight 5y ago
The bottleneck in countries with "free university degrees" is not the cost of university, it's the cost financing your live while studying. For young people with no real financial obligations that's somewhat easy to accomplish. For people in the midst of their lifes, working a regular job, taking care of a family, it can be very difficult to juggle all these obligations at once. Because even when university is "free" it still requires you to invest time.
- hilbert42 5y ago
  "Because even when university is "free" it still requires you to invest time." That's ever so true. I've been to university over several periods earlier in my life. The first time there were fees but they were manageable by most students (as the Government provided reasonably heavy subsidiaries). By the next time the government had changed and a more enlightened one came in and made all fees (except student union fees) free. This was great for a time until work commitments forced me to stop before I'd finished. Then a little later another government reversed it all and it even went much further - the new fee structure went from free to like $50,000 or even double that for some degrees. Thus, my lack of time caught me out big-time. That said, had I had the slightest notion what was going to happen then I'd definitely have managed to find the time. That's for certain! (I'd not learned the old addage don't put off until tomorrow what one can do today.)

jdasdf 5y ago

> There is absolutely no problem getting a higher degree—say in literature—and also becoming a plumber. There is when you're not the one paying for it.

mucholove 5y ago
So I largely agree with you. A university or college degree for topics such as literature, history, gender studies, etc should not be available to you until you have done been certified in a trade (be that bricklaying, medicine, law or engineering) This is why I highlighted that these sorts of degrees don't need to be done on a campus, full-time unless you're willing to pay for that or have been deemed worthy of a scholarship AFTER having completed a vocation. I do think it would be quite awesome to have these available for free again after having achieved skills that are very valuable in the workplace. Kind of like going to a museum or the way Jews can go on a birthright trip.