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The article phrases things in terms of economics (as WSJ is wont to do), but there are more issues. > The Obama administration has dubbed college "the ticket t

by j2kun 13y ago

The article phrases things in terms of economics (as WSJ is wont to do), but there are more issues. > The Obama administration has dubbed college "the ticket to the middle class," Indeed, the problem is that higher education is deemed a "ticket" to ride. Even the president is implying (whether he really believes it or not) that a college degree entitles someone to a good standard of living. Not effort, hard work, or other qualities commonly associated with the American dream.

chaosphere2112 13y ago
Right, but, at least in theory, getting a college degree is a sign of having put in effort, hard work, and other qualities commonly associated with the American Dream.
wonderzombie 13y ago
You wouldn't characterize education as a commonly discussed component of upward mobility? It seems to me that an education is exactly how you'd expect your children to do well, as opposed to the "effort" and "hard work" of a mostly-unskilled job with an obvious ceiling on wages, etc.
- gaius 13y ago
  There's education and there's education. Academic learning is only one kind of intelligence, learning physical skills is intelligence too. Which is why plumbers are so well paid. Here in the UK the Labour government told all the working class kids hey, don't bother to learn a trade like your parents, go to an ex-poly and get a degree in media studies! Now they're unemployable and all our tradesmen come from Poland, where they do still understand education and they do still respect the trades. And without them, the UK is in a lot of trouble.
- j2kun 13y ago
  I mean that going through the education system is not enough alone to guarantee success, but this is implied by the use of the word "ticket." A phrase that makes it clear there's no entitlement would be "opportunity to reach the middle class" when this is more like "pay money and you'll get there just like everyone else."

by j2kun 13y ago

chaosphere2112 13y ago

Right, but, at least in theory, getting a college degree is a sign of having put in effort, hard work, and other qualities commonly associated with the American Dream.

wonderzombie 13y ago

You wouldn't characterize education as a commonly discussed component of upward mobility? It seems to me that an education is exactly how you'd expect your children to do well, as opposed to the "effort" and "hard work" of a mostly-unskilled job with an obvious ceiling on wages, etc.

gaius 13y ago
There's education and there's education. Academic learning is only one kind of intelligence, learning physical skills is intelligence too. Which is why plumbers are so well paid. Here in the UK the Labour government told all the working class kids hey, don't bother to learn a trade like your parents, go to an ex-poly and get a degree in media studies! Now they're unemployable and all our tradesmen come from Poland, where they do still understand education and they do still respect the trades. And without them, the UK is in a lot of trouble.
j2kun 13y ago
I mean that going through the education system is not enough alone to guarantee success, but this is implied by the use of the word "ticket." A phrase that makes it clear there's no entitlement would be "opportunity to reach the middle class" when this is more like "pay money and you'll get there just like everyone else."