I would like to start out with a little Bible verse from Proverbs 20:15, it goes like this “There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.” This verse is saying that people are surrounded daily by tons of things that we believe are precious and costly. Yet the people with real understanding, knowledge, of value are the most precious and rare of all. But what is real understanding of value? In today’s society people are taught to believe that knowledge is getting a diploma and going to a four-year university. To get your diploma you must make good grades in school. For college, high test scores and good high school grades are the things that dictate what college you can get into. But why? Why should a grade in subjects most students don’t even really care about determine whether they are “smart.” Grades should be abolished …show more content…
I’m sure you have heard this as well in your time in school. I bet you guys have all heard of Adele. She is a very popular musician that was made famous by her gorgeous, crisp sounding voice. But no college education. How about Mark Zuckerberg? Billionaire co-founder of Facebook. But no college education. The list keeps on going. Billionaire perfectionist that didn’t go to a four year university. I’m saying that they didn’t need straight A’s to perfect their art. The very founding document of America was written and signed by rebellious people who didn’t abide by the law. We all have the ability and smartness to be great and grades don’t really reflect that skill very well. The celebrities and millionaire entrepreneurs are the people that we all wish we could be the most. They are the ones we build ours lives after. The people who perfected their own art. Yet getting an education is still thought to be going to college and getting a good job instead of working for
We are told to “go to college” by family, media, and teachers, but we are never given an explanation on why it’s important for us to get a higher education. The importance of higher education is so we can obtain a career that can support our needs and wants. It’s also important because it gives you an advantage when trying to get a job. Employers require a higher form of education, which is necessary for our society to advance. There aren’t many jobs that accept people with a high school diploma as their highest form of education. Employers want people that know what they’re doing, and so does our society. In order for people to go into the career field they want, they need to go to college to learn everything that comes with that career.
Have you ever just stopped to think about what it must be like to be “qualified” for a job yet be unemployed and homeless? Starving on the streets because you paid everything you had to an institution that was supposed to guarantee a better life, a more stable and successful career. Obviously this is an extreme case, not everyone who pays for college ends up living on the streets and broke, but almost every college graduate is in debt. For as long as college has been around it has always meant a better life, it’s always been that people who went to college were more successful, smarter, and would make way more money than someone who didn’t go to college ever would. Lately, however, college has become so expensive that going to college will more than likely leave you in debt working for years upon years just to pay back what you owe and then start making money for yourself.
We are pushed to strive in school and given standards to achieve. Standardized test are used to define who we are and our abilities. We are more than a math problem and can do better than analyze an essay. Although those are important skills to learn, we can use our intelligence to greater abilities. We do our best and schools for seven hours a day, five days a week, not including the loads of homework and studying we do to prepare for college. To prepare us for a thirteen thousand dollar yearly tuition not including books, housing, and transportation. Do colleges assume that our parents are going to fund on average, fifty-two thousand dollars as a basic tuition just so we can attend college? Let’s be real, half of the U.S barely makes that on a yearly basis. Most loans in America are student loans, and most are still paying them off as adults. College tuition deters people from college. College tuition hold students down from what they can accomplish. The better the school, the higher the rate. Because tuition is so expensive, people take two steps back to save money. Harvard attendees are smart, but so
Not all have to go to college to be successful, and not all hardworking jobs require a college degree. College is not necessarily a measure of intelligence. Especially in todays economy, a lot of people can not afford to pursue higher education. That does not mean they would not make really fantastic doctors or lawyers if they could afford to go to college. Not everyone has the means to receive degrees and titles, some do not even have the desire to. “We reinforce this notion by defining intelligence solely on grades in school and numbers on IQ tests” Rose explained. (Rose, 279) I believe that higher education is definitely a worthwhile endeavor. I also believe while it may be the best route for some, it is not for everyone. For example, my mother and father both did not attend college. They both make good incomes, and love their everyday jobs. My mother always wanted to be a hair stylist, so obviously college was not the best option for her. My father was always good at persuading people to do things, so he got into the sales business. My mother and father are a prime example of being successful in their field, without pursuing higher education. Attending college is not the only way that a person can live a happy and full
“In the United States today, there is no more certain investment than a college education”(Carnevale and Melton). Education has always been a major component of American society. One can only go so far without an education, and the more education and knowledge someone has, the better their chances of being successful. Some people believe a high school education is enough, and it is, enough to land a job at a fast food restaurant. I speculate they feel this way because they feel school is not for them, or maybe they just do not want to go far in life. To get far in life people must go above and beyond, and learn things that others do not know to make them
Throughout the years, America has always debated whether education is needed- if it helps people succeed or not. The argument in the past was always over high school education, which is now mandatory. That decision has helped the US rise economically and industrially. Today, the US is in the middle of the same debate- this time, over college. Some, like David Leonhardt, a columnist for the business section of The New York Times, think a college education creates success in any job. Others, such as Christopher Beha, an author and assistant editor of Harper’s Magazine, believe that some college “education” (like that of for-profit schools) is a waste of time, and can even be harmful to students. Each stance on this argument has truth to it,
A highschool diploma doesn’t get you what it used too, you will be lucky to get a job at McDonald’s with only a highschool diploma. People now want a degree, a furthered education that can be put to use. However at the same time people are so lazy in our country that they don’t want to or think they have to do anything more than the bare minimum to get a job. Then there are people who cheat the system and pay people under the table or illegal immigrants to do work that others won’t do. We can’t complain nearly enough how illegal immigrants come and take our jobs but we expect to get paid twice as someone who will do it for a reasonable or below actual price. Then they will do the job better than someone who wants twice as
I also believe that an education is very good to have but not all that society makes it out to be. I feel that a person should have a good education so that can open up his mind and give him something to persuade in his future. If a person is educated that can really have an advantage in the “real world” today. Society looks very highly on a person with a good education, but this is where I disagree with society. Since society looks so highly on education, the people that may have a natural talent or trait may never get a chance to peruse a good career. The job market will always look at the person that has a schooling background and never at that other person that does not have a good education. Even if that person with the education may not be the best person to hire for the benefit of the company but the company will still hire him because of his education background.
There is a stigma that a smart person has messy hair, glasses and wears oversized plaid shirts who probably stutter when they try to talk and is only friends with the other so-called nerds. This stigma is a type of poison to society that already dislikes intellectuals. The media plays a part in anti-intellectualism because the average person sees multiple figures in the media with very little education or nothing beyond the standard high school degree, though it is true that you can make it without the extra step of a college degree. It’s probable that someone is going to struggle just as much as the average everyday person trying to get to that level of success for you can do whatever you wish through getting a college education. From a societal standpoint, people are probably not going to get a high-paying job if you don't have that college degree unless your chosen profession is something like you see in the media like a singer or dancer or an actress and even if that's the case you're the chance of success is not high. To encourage people to squander their lives on is not a positive impact on an already struggling society.
It seems in the society we live in today, having a college degree is a necessity. Years ago it was the norm for people to just go right into a full time job after high school, if they even finished high school; they did this to support their families. In today’s society a person has a difficult time getting a decent job without a college degree. During an adults working life, bachelor degree graduates will earn about $2.1 million and a high school graduate can expect to earn an average of $1.2 million (Day and Newburger, 2002). This is quite a difference and it puts a college education in
The path to success has been remodeled over the years by different generations due to the developing mind. College does educate and challenges people to do more and think more. We can clearly see this example because the developers of this debate are both college graduates. Later on in life more and more questions will be asked and answered. College has an importance that is so popular but that importance has a value. The developing world and society will always view college as something necessary no matter what because is has proved to be a path and a escape to a better life. People that have specific circumstances and cannot pursue college have often been denied of a huge opportunity that can be life changing to almost everyone. No one can judge intelligence based on economical stability or tests, but what the educational system seems to be judging intelligence on is the bank account of the projected student. There is a saying that says "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance." But as technology is constantly advancing and computers are running almost anything, is a college education really necessary? There are people whom have never set foot in a college and are doing better than people who have their master's degree. There are views from both sides that contain a valid argument.
When looking at the bigger aspect having an education is different from a degree. An education can be formal, informal, self-directed, on the job training, professional licenses and certifications, or any other form of education. It’s easy to discount icons such as Michael Jackson, George Washington, Gandhi, Bill Gates, Lebron James and many others who did not go through a traditional four year degree program (College Dropouts). I can imagine the amount of hard work, training, practice, and study they had to go through to achieve their success and often equal or far exceed the amount of effort an average person puts into an average 4 year degree. Even
On the negative or less optimistic side, it seems to be universally accepted that college education is a good thing; however, thousands of colleges and millions of students spend vast amounts of time and money chasing some sort of degree, diploma or certificate. But what is the value of these qualifications? Most college students (me included) gets brainwashed or sidetracked by administrators of education. They make it seems as though having a college education is the only way doors will open for students. Certificates, diplomas, and degrees are held up as a status symbol and the key to money, power and success. However, the truly powerful are not those with degrees, but people who stand back and look at what is really important in life. These people are found in every part of society. Take my present boss for instance, Carol Levine. Carol never attended college; she actually was a high school drop out who eventually went on to receiving her GED. Today she is the general manager for a fortune 500 company which is also one of Florida’s number one title insurance
I have read an article "Is a College Degree Necessary" published by Los Angeles Times, and was written by Mike Rustigan in my English class. The author wrote about the number of dropouts from the university because they feel that school is not the appropriate place for them to learn the knowledge and life. They just want to work with your hands, and learn a skill by itself after high school. By contrast, President Obama wants every student has the opportunity to attend college to obtain higher education. President Obama told Congress, "We expect all our children not only to graduate from high school but to graduate from college and get a good-paying job." (Los Angeles Times). After reading the article, there is the big question in my mind is: Is there a college degree necessary for success? Some people may think that not going to college will not have much influence on their life, because going to college or a vocational school, finally, people still go to work and earn money to support themselves and their families, should a college degree is not important and necessary; as long as we have the ability and effort, we will succeed. Is really very difficult to believe that a person needs a college education to succeed in life because success in life has different meanings for different people, and there are many who have succeeded , become a billionaire, but not through a whole school or class in life. Some others said that the university is not only a success, but the path
Throughout the history of civilization, education has been an important tool in shaping an individual as well as the society that the individual is a part of. In the older civilizations, only the elite upper class had access to education. This kept these people at the top of the social ladder, and suppressed the common people who did not have access to the same education as the nobles. We have come a long way since then, with every child having access to a free high school degree. However, there is still some inequality in this modern education system that has similarities to the old injustices. In this day and age, a college degree is a great start for a young adult starting to enter the work force. According to a study conducted by Pew