Oh YES, folks, the conspiracy wheel is spinning out of control… the “get an education” conspiracy, that is… college, HUNH! What is it good for? It’s good for keeping the unemployed hopeful and busy while there are no (and won’t be) true “jobs” or careers of interest/worth; it’s good for the “educators” / administrators to put their hands all the way into our bank accounts, so we’ll be beholding to them longer than it takes to buy a house. It’s also good for separating the educational market, such that paying $50K to get a BA from one school can do you no good when you want to go to another “school” for your doctorate by adding more education to your handsome list.. Credits transfer between schools? HA!
This attached article (Dear Class of ‘13: You’ve Been Scammed) is ON POINT and speaks to the foolishness involved in our higher education (don’t get me started on k-12!) scam. For decades we have been encouraged to get a better education, so we can get those higher paying jobs, have a real piece of the pie. Don’t pay attention to the man behind the curtain decreasing real jobs, increasing real taxes and telling us all we have to do to escape the cycle is get a degree and show the world who we are.
Yeah right!
I can’t wait to get a minimum wage job at KFC using my proudly earned and time wasting BA! Keep me busy “learning” from virtual schools and virtual educators, so I won’t notice we are still circling the drain.
God Bless America!!!
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#CONSPIRACY THEORY, but it’s TRUE! http://ow.ly/lrjjKÂ #theeducationconspiracy #mortgageyoureducation #permanentstudent
C is for… Conspiracy Theory
E is for… Education
BuddhaKat 
Sadly, I think you’re right. Once upon a time ( early 80’s), having farted around like Zonker, I got a 2 year technical degree for $15 a unit. It was enough to get a good job with a respected hi-tech firm. How radically things have changed! And it’s deliberate. Tragic.
And I flashback to the 70’s (Ashton Kutcher / Michael Kelso, Zonker’s predecessor) and remember when going to a state college (in any of its various city locations) – like the U of MN, was either free, or so cheap as to feel free to the average resident student. Ahhhh… the good old days!
Yet, perhaps discussions like this can keep the subject fresh in the minds of those who make active changes to the status quo. Such that we don’t descend further into a quagmire of student loan debt that further endangers the educational standards we once held dear.
🙂
Hmm, very interesting. I will read that article. I didn’t know a conspiracy was on! 🙂
Hi Noeleen… there’s almost always a conspiracy afoot, be it government funded education or government subsidized religion…
😉
Believe it or not, education costs aren’t much different in the top half of North America. I worry about my grandkids. They’re only five and nine.
I know, Tess… I feel the same. If a child of today makes it out of high school alive, I hope the options for their higher education are still enough to keep alive their passions and dreams!
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My younger person is working on a technical degree. It costs way less and he’ll probably get a better paying job than many people with a four year degree.
A grand idea, but are we flooding the market with these virtual and skill based educations that they are no longer a special feature to brag of? I remember when these small, two-year technical schools were called “city colleges” and were even cheaper than the state based universities. And yet respectable as an alternative path to “higher education”.
I’d disagree with the statement that an education isn’t worth it.
It isn’t worth what they are charging now, but the critical thinking skills a college should teach are invaluable.
What worries me most is that the art of critical thinking and all its subsequent options may be lost in the student loan shuffle!
In fact, just after I posted this, I saw my first infomercial offering fiscal assistance for those paying off their student loans.An entire industry grew out of our need and respect for “higher” education. Will we now see the birth of yet another industry – one offering to rescue us from the clutches of student loans? I call it the Peachtree effect, or a prebankruptcy option to escaping the weight of all our student loans.
Thanks so much, EG for participating in the discussion. Discussion that is sorely needed to keep the whole topic out of the hands of the Pharisees and money changers!
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I can’t disagree, it is a terrible change indeed when our children spend tens of thousands of dollars and still cannot find relevant work.
What a succinct description! Thanks, Valentine!
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The problem with Higher Education is that no one is learning to do anything. They are just filling their heads with formulas and facts.
Well, that’s pretty much true. For some reason those facts and formulas are good for the higher degrees (like a PhD).
The ability to do stuff should come way earlier, maybe before the 12 is reached, but surely somewhere in the next 2 – 4!
So there’s a big hole in the education system, that forgot to address teaching a marketable skill. Once one has that skill, then in the time to find deeper understanding in facts and figures.
Actually if you read back /talk to old old guys, labor unions pushed for 12 years and longer public school to keep kids out of the job market.
At one time college was considered for the elites: either the really smart students or the rich ones who’s parents didn’t know what to do with them (or family tradition). Higher edu was expensive then. Women often went to “Finishing Schools” to prepare them for what society had decided their role was at the time (please view with eye of the time/era – not modern thougths.)
State schools here were less expensive, but never free – still a stretch for most families. (who saved for it – didn’t get loans/borrow). Not everyone went.
Now? Why is every single kid pushed into college? Some aren’t prepared (and get discouraged and leave). Some really don’t want what is offered there ( so the colleges offer “interesting/pop culture courses). Colleges are so crowded they have to hire more instructors – so they have to raise tuition.
There are other options.
Go to college if you really want to – realize the cost and look for ways to get dual credits in HS/ lower cost community classes for basics/ take on line courses/ seriously search for scholarship (grades and effort).
Be very careful with 2 yr associate degrees – do research – be wary of all the promises – look at their track record and make sure the institution has been around for a good while – with no/few complaints. Talk to people. Some schools are great – some are scams
Consider learning a trade and sign up to learn practical skills that are in demand. Even if you decide to go to college later to become an engineer or vet or builder or doctor or whatever – all that background knowledge will make it easier and put you ahead of the pack with knowledge and experience ( and maybe something will be done to make college more affordable while you are gaining skills and working to make money)
BUT consider working for yourself. Build your own business ( Yes it can be done – hard, but it’s yours and you won’t face layoffs – you have flexibility. Just know your “success” won’t be over night).
The current college mania – should be seriously reevaluated and examined.
Something’s wrong when grandparents are taking on school loans saying “well, if I die, no one will have to pay the loans back”
So very well said… and I agree the current system needs a good kick in the butt once over, with an eye to realizing the difference between teaching those who want to learn a valuable education.
A sad point, I see these days, even at an entry level position into a firm with many different facets, it is almost required to have some sort of degree. Will we soon need a BA to serve up the fast food?
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Was just talking about this with a friend this morning. I can’t speak for the USA, but here in the UK, the last government (this one’s no better), made a lot of technical colleges into universities and tried to persuade us that every kid should have a university education! They got rid of apprenticeships etc and consequently there are a lot of graduates in ridiculous subjects like Media Studies and Film (getting degree to watch TV!!!) and Sports Science, who cannot get jobs, while I can’t find an efficient plumber for love nor money!
It stinks!
I think someone threw out logic (the baby) with the bathwater!
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