In her article, Caroline Bird argues that college has become a "contemporary nightmare" that forces youngsters to make wrong choices. Nowadays, many students attend college not because they actually like to learn, but because their families and other people influence them. Bird claims that college is not a suitable choice for everyone, so it's importance may not be as credible as society makes it.
In order to defend her point, the author refers to the rising number of graduates who face mediocre choices for employment. Bird dismisses the optimistic views of college students who want a job that "changes" the world. She states that there will "probably never be enough jobs requiring higher education to go around." Clearly, the author wants us to realize that the jobs that students want differ heavily from those that students may actually need after graduation.
While she refers effectively to the realities of employment, Bird's argument generalizes the worth of an education among families. The author assumes too quickly the fact that each family views higher education as an expense. Although the high tuition costs do force some families to reconsider their children's education, other families see college as an investment.
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3 comments:
ea:
I agree with your statements regarding how education should not be considered a "burden" by most - do you think that students attending college can make it through the four+ years and earn satsfactory grades with only outside influences as their driving force? do you think that these peer/family pressures are enough (or SHOULD be enough) for a young person to go through this time, sanity, and money consuming ordeal? I guess, what I am really asking is: What do you feel is a 'good' personal reason to go to college?
-hb
EA, it seems like you are saying that different types of families view higher education differently, which i feel is true, especially when considereing financial reasons. Do you think the views of families would change is college were free? ( of course i know that will never happen :( )
EA, it seems that you did not agree with many of Caroline's Bird's points and that she was almost putting some of the blame of education on the students. Although I felt like she was not pointing out the positives of higher education, i think some of her points were very eye-opening. It also seems that you believe families and students are putting money into a worthwhile cause but what if the student is not motivated enought for finish the education? Do you think that it was still a good expirience even though he or she did not receive a degree?
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