Analysis Of Opinion: America Needs To Raise The Bar On Education

High school graduation marks the start of young adults’ lives, a time where they are expected to decide what they want to do for the rest of their lives. Many young adults are pressured into attending college, whether they have determined their goal or not, but is it necessary? “The Case Against College,” an article written by Linda Lee, a mother who has questioned the former belief that college equals success, claims that “not everyone needs a higher education.” College, though beneficial to many, is not for everyone and should not determine an individual’s life.

Higher education in America is facing many challenges, i.e., low retention, low graduation rates and less funding. Postsecondary institutions are scrambling to remain a competitive entity within society. In order to do so, students must remain in school (Talbert, 2012). The Office of the White House states (2014), educational attainment is critical to our county’s economic success. In essence, the work force is creating more jobs requiring more education and a higher level of skill than was previously achieved. Individuals with only a high school diploma will not make into the middle class sector because of

Andrew Simmons published his article for The Atlantic, “The Danger of Telling Poor Kids that College is the Key to Social Mobility” on January 16, 2014, which raises his concerns that higher education is only being promoted as an opportunity to increase their economic status, when it should be an opportunity to experience an education (Simmons). Through the use of students such as Isabella, Simmons disagrees with the way students now look at higher education and blames the educators through the students’ lives for this view. Instead, Simmons views education as an intellectual opportunity rather than a way to elevate ones economic class which is all people see when they see “higher education.” He believes that education, ambition and work ethic is how you have a satisfying life, not with how much you make. He makes the point that when economics becomes the main goal of education it’s all children begin to think about and they might not pursue something that they are truly passionate about or what they want to learn about, which then does not create an intellectually awakening experience (Simmons).

In his speech, “Remarks by the President in a National Address to America’s Schoolchildren,” Obama effectively argues his claim, that kids should go to school and try very hard to succeed to schoolchildren around the U.S. He effectively argues his claim because he uses supporting details and stories of students that have undergone tough situations, but still overcame those obstacles to succeed and school. Also, he is trying to tell kids that they should do well in school to get a good job and make a difference. He also uses rhetorical appeals to help with the supporting details. One of supporting evidence that he brought up was that if someone wants to become something such as a doctor, or lawyer you will need a good education to do

In the essay “College Value Goes Deeper Than the Degree” author Eric Hoover claims a college education is important to one 's well-being so they can get a job and be productive in other parts of life. Promoters of higher education have long emphasized how beneficial college’s value and its purpose. Many believe the notion that colleges teach students are life skills to apply anywhere, they also work hard to earn a degree and learn specific marketable skills which they can use to get a good job. Though obtaining a college education and a degree is helpful in countless of ways, it is not necessary to pursue a college degree in world where a college degree is seen different now, people without turn out fine, the growing average of debt that students who attend college have to pay off and people without a degree can obtain many jobs that do not require college degrees.

With the world’s demand of intellectual and qualified people rising, it is clear that education is becoming an important part of one’s life; youngsters need education so that they be functional in society and not let down their beloved country. In order to begin, we will look at the speech that former President Barack Obama gave in 2009. In the beginning of his speech, he is stated: “...I guarantee that you’ll need an education to do it [find a job] ...You cannot drop out of school and just drop into a good job” (Paragraph 9). Obama is claiming that without adequate education, people cannot find satisfactory work with their limited knowledge. This proves that education is crucial to the public and to society because without acceptable workers

When it comes to embarking on post secondary education the views of it’s importance and relevance is controversial. In Murray’s Op-Ed piece, “Should The Obama Generation Drop Out”, he believes a college education is unnecessary. I, however disagree with Murray’s notion. College is necessary according to a person’s career choice and it’s requirements.

America is still the land of opportunity and people still strive and succeed in their quest for self-improvement. And in no other aspect of America can this opportunity to succeed and their striving for betterment be as so clearly seen than in Americans obsession to achieve education at the highest levels. 94 percent of Americans believe that Education is important and 73 percent agree that higher education is “essential for getting a good job” (Source F). This symbolizes how Americans see education as the outlet to achieve affluence, success and a “better,” “high[er] quality of life” (source F). Furthermore, the many scholarships offered by schools, one of which mentioned by Obama in Source B, displays another aspect of the education system that provides opportunities for self-improvement, if earned through hard work, for an individual by providing a chance to obtain higher education no matter what background one comes from. In essence, education has become the primary path to achieve an improved standing on both a societal and individual

In, Leo Gerard's article, " Grading Colleges on Access to the American Dream", the author illustrates the tremendous problem of college affordability, which is a growing issue in America. While author primarily focuses on the current issue of college affordability, he also evokes memories of a time when attending college was less difficult. The author begins his argument by stating the importance of colleges and the American Dream. He outlines Obama's plan to grade colleges based on tuition, scholarships, and financial aid. He states that Obama's plan will help restore the chance for all people to attain the American Dream. The author then compares our generation to the past, as he describes the circumstances for teens growing up in the 1960s

Everybody loves a good success story. When the underdog, usually a lower class high school age student, defies the odds and comes out on top, beating his circumstances to get where nobody thinks he should go, everyone goes crazy for it. So crazy that Hollywood gets in on the act, with movie productions such as The Blind Side, Life of A King, and Slum Dog Millionaire. Sadly, these stories are not commonplace, in fact, they are very few and far between. More often than not, students from lower class families struggle to get by, as a result putting school to the back burner. Less than 75% of students in lower income households graduate high school, and even fewer go onto college (http://nces.ed.gov). From this group, excuses began to come out, the main reason underlies them all; they have become a product of their circumstance. The position they were in restrained them, forcing only one path, a

The decision to obtain a higher education beyond high school is no longer a question of if, but when. This is the question that author Caroline Bird discusses in her article, “College is a Waste of Time and Money,” written in 1975. This text strives to convince students, parents, and advisors that obtaining a degree might not be in the best interest for those involved. Circling around the idea that college is a requirement and no longer an act of free will. Bird starts the article off strongly by building her credibility through her own personal research and other credible sources as well as appealing to readers through logical reasoning using numerous statistics, but fails to convince readers and discredits her ultimate goal through a disconnect in her use of analogies.

Education is import for society, whether it is short or long is irrelevant. However, today’s youth has a difficult time understanding, what they can use an education for. So how do you make it clear to the students, that they must take their education seriously and that it is important for their future and the future of their country? That is what Barack Obama, the president of the United States, tries to do in his speech “Back to School” delivered at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia, on September 8, 2009. He argues about the values of hard work and taking responsibility for paving your own way to success, even though the obstacles seems difficult.

Naomi tries and explain how college is a sorting process for talent or a way to babysit 18-year-olds is not very efficient. To counter Obama’s vision Naomi talks about how sometimes students get their degree and end up not even using it just as Mark Zuckerberg or the kids that Peter Thiel lured into taking one hundred thousand dollars. To stay out of college for two years and work instead on scientific and technological innovations. Thiel has called college “the default activity” that means that it’s time for a change on viewpoints on college undergraduate education being necessary. Naomi suggests ideas of apprenticeship, not just for shoemakers and plumbers but for white-collar jobs. Also Naomi asks if “students rather show their SAT scores to companies and then apply for training positions where they can then learn the skills they need to be successful?”.

The dream of going to college is one held by many aspiring high schoolers, especially in the 21st century. College education itself is becoming more of a prerequisite rather than an additional option for getting a high paying job. Jennifer Hochschild, a Harvard Professor, noted in her 2000 publication that “[Public education] represents the nation’s greatest effort to turn the ideology of the American Dream into practice” (Hochschild 2). College, in the terms of the American dream, is a means to an end: the end being a high paying, high rewarding job.

President Obama makes the argument that education will lead students to a brighter future and a successful career. Students should strive for a successful future because with that they learn responsibility, whether they pay attention in school or obtain a suitable job that will give them benefits because of their high education. Barack Obama states, “But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, the best schools in the world- and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities, unless you show up to those schools, unless you pay attention to those teachers, unless you listen to your parents and grandparents and other adults and put in the hard work it takes to succeed” (Obama 2). Thus demonstrating that President Obama himself believes that by having responsibilities as such listed,