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This reminds me of an EconTalk podcast from about 6 months ago where the assertion was made that college has become an extension of adolescence, as opposed to a

by patja 14y ago

This reminds me of an EconTalk podcast from about 6 months ago where the assertion was made that college has become an extension of adolescence, as opposed to a direct path to a middle class career. Given that the ability to write and reason well are foundational to success in many careers, I am all for the benefits of a classical liberal arts course of study, but how many psychology and visual arts BA's can the economy reasonably reward with good paying jobs? http://www.econtalk.org/archives/2011/12/tabarrok_on_inn.html http://www.econtalk.org/archives/2011/12/tabarrok_on_inn.htm...

mc32 14y ago
I think in Western Europe the ratio might even be higher. I recall a conversation with a German several years ago and was told it was not uncommon for people doing blue collar jobs to have achieved some higher education. In any event, more education the better, even if not individually returning the time/money investment.
- Spooky23 14y ago
  There's a difference between "blue collar" and a crappy service sector job. The blue collar person in many settings makes a decent wage and has alot of autonomy. A substantial number of NCOs in the Army have Masters degrees. HVAC guys often have BAs with substantial industry certifications. The person with a $250k MFA folding sweaters at the Gap for $8.50 an hour or the person with a law degree working as a bank teller are basically a rung up from casual labor with no career path.
betterunix 14y ago
Education is not just about jobs. The better educated people are, the harder it is to take advantage of them regardless of what sort of job they have. Communities benefit from having educated people living in them -- people who can solve problems, mediate disputes, and organize to improve the community's situation. A democracy requires an educated populace in order to ensure that rights are not violated, that bad laws are repealed, and that an aristocracy cannot hijack the system at everyone's expense (bonus points if you can name a major world power that has that problem). At the end of the day, that is what this is really about: not having a society ruled by an aristocracy. Public education is meant to ensure that poor people can receive a decent education, to ensure that society does not fall into a pattern where only rich people are educated enough to run the show.
- nickpinkston 14y ago
  This is a good defense of a true purpose of education - no doubt. However, I'd say that if we measured and ranked schools' impacts the number one would be in worker productivity: i.e. better jobs / wages + more positioned filled. The protection from aristocracy is part of it, but I'd bet it's not the biggest part.

by patja 14y ago

mc32 14y ago

I think in Western Europe the ratio might even be higher. I recall a conversation with a German several years ago and was told it was not uncommon for people doing blue collar jobs to have achieved some higher education. In any event, more education the better, even if not individually returning the time/money investment.

Spooky23 14y ago
There's a difference between "blue collar" and a crappy service sector job. The blue collar person in many settings makes a decent wage and has alot of autonomy. A substantial number of NCOs in the Army have Masters degrees. HVAC guys often have BAs with substantial industry certifications. The person with a $250k MFA folding sweaters at the Gap for $8.50 an hour or the person with a law degree working as a bank teller are basically a rung up from casual labor with no career path.

betterunix 14y ago

Education is not just about jobs. The better educated people are, the harder it is to take advantage of them regardless of what sort of job they have. Communities benefit from having educated people living in them -- people who can solve problems, mediate disputes, and organize to improve the community's situation. A democracy requires an educated populace in order to ensure that rights are not violated, that bad laws are repealed, and that an aristocracy cannot hijack the system at everyone's expense (bonus points if you can name a major world power that has that problem). At the end of the day, that is what this is really about: not having a society ruled by an aristocracy. Public education is meant to ensure that poor people can receive a decent education, to ensure that society does not fall into a pattern where only rich people are educated enough to run the show.

nickpinkston 14y ago
This is a good defense of a true purpose of education - no doubt. However, I'd say that if we measured and ranked schools' impacts the number one would be in worker productivity: i.e. better jobs / wages + more positioned filled. The protection from aristocracy is part of it, but I'd bet it's not the biggest part.