Until fairly recently in this country’s history, a college education seemed to be confined to elite members of society, namely those who had the time and resources to study subjects that might not have had an immediate “market value.” As the cost of a four-year degree continues to rise, families are forced to ask themselves if college is worth it. Is a degree worth absenting oneself from the full-time workforce for four or more years? Is it worth the hours of studying? And most of all--is it worth the cost?
The financial reality of today’s highly technical, global economy is that college graduates need to be able to find jobs that pay a livable wage, one that will allow them to pay off their college loan debt as well as to provide for housing, food, and other necessities. But what else should a college education provide? The kinds of thinking and learning, the habits of mind, that students acquire over the course of their college years, also serve to equip and empower them to intervene in their own social reality. This is especially true for students who do not have time beyond work to devote to studying what has been called a “liberal arts” education. In a 2015 article in The New Yorker, John Cassidy asks the question: “What’s the real value of higher education?” As a student just entering higher education, what is YOUR answer to this question? Click the COMMENT box below to share your response. To participate in the conversation, register for a free Disqus account at www.disqus.com to get started!
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About this blogA blog is an online conversation. This one is for students of writing and is an extension of our face-to-face classroom. Here is where we can continue a discussion started in class, ask questions, and test new ideas. Archives
March 2020
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