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Another way to look at this is, like so many things, a conflict of visions. Vision one is that college is an elite institution meant to bring together smart, r

Another way to look at this is, like so many things, a conflict of visions. Vision one is that college is an elite institution meant to bring together smart, rich, and connected people in a learning and growth environment. This is sort of a perti-dish of success. In this vision, standardized tests bring in the smart people to compliment the rich and connected. Vision two is that college is an institution for everyone to have a chance to get ahead. It's a natural extension of high school as we move into a period where we depend on knowledge workers. In this vision, standardized tests exclude people from opportunities. Clearly the UC is adopting vision two. Whether the tests are racist or not is a distraction. The problem with vision one is basic fairness, especially when public money is involved. The problem with vision two is that, if we want real success, we do need elite institutions to concentrate a mix of people likely to produce amazing things. And also, I predict that the noble shine of college as a gateway to opportunity will wear off pretty quickly once they cease being elite institutions, and succumb to bureaucratic stupidity and financial recklessness.

Viliam1234 5y ago
I see a hope here. Educational system seems broken in USA: the costs of education are insanely high, but you need the diploma in order to get a good job, so the costs will keep growing, because why not (from the perspective of the universities). And this perfectly designed system to extract money from everyone... just decided to destroy itself from inside. If universities become stupid enough, so that employers stop preferring people who have a diploma, there will no longer be a reason to pay. The universities can become ideological strongholds for the woke, but most of the population will simply ignore them. There are a few problems with this hope, though. First, what about research? Second, government can protect universities, regardless of their quality, by requiring a university diploma if you want to work for any public institution. > Vision two is that college is an institution for everyone to have a chance to get ahead. Although I like the sentiment, the only way to actually achieve it would be to make the college free and with no admission tests (that is, there is literally a place for everyone, including insane or retarded people). Otherwise, there will still exist criteria that separate the "diploma haves" from the "diploma have nots", only those criteria will be less transparent than now.

Viliam1234 5y ago

I see a hope here. Educational system seems broken in USA: the costs of education are insanely high, but you need the diploma in order to get a good job, so the costs will keep growing, because why not (from the perspective of the universities). And this perfectly designed system to extract money from everyone... just decided to destroy itself from inside. If universities become stupid enough, so that employers stop preferring people who have a diploma, there will no longer be a reason to pay. The universities can become ideological strongholds for the woke, but most of the population will simply ignore them. There are a few problems with this hope, though. First, what about research? Second, government can protect universities, regardless of their quality, by requiring a university diploma if you want to work for any public institution. > Vision two is that college is an institution for everyone to have a chance to get ahead. Although I like the sentiment, the only way to actually achieve it would be to make the college free and with no admission tests (that is, there is literally a place for everyone, including insane or retarded people). Otherwise, there will still exist criteria that separate the "diploma haves" from the "diploma have nots", only those criteria will be less transparent than now.