College Is Not For Everyone
Contrary to the impression often given, college is not for everyone. Some simply lack the mental acumen necessary, others lack incentive, and still others have vocational interests that suggest an alternative course of action. Meanwhile, a college degree is uncritically promoted as a calculated means of increasing income. While generally true, there is no simple correlation.
Not everyone was created equal in terms of their mental capacity. Nor are they given the same stimulus to achieve. For instance, recent studies suggest that children in welfare homes are engaged in conversation only about half as often as those in working families. This is calculated to make a substantial difference.
Some intensive programs have been devised to help compensate for deficiencies. These have been more or less successful. However, it appears unlikely that this approach can be adopted in a comprehensive fashion. Certainly not unless there are drastic trade-offs.
Incentive also plays an important role. I found the competition associated with college much more intense than I had previously experienced. As a result, I increased my efforts. While successful in my case, some have greater difficulty making the adjustment.
Then, too, persons may be adept in ways other than formal education. Consequently, it proves counter-productive to insist that they compete in an area where they are ill-suited, while ignoring that in which they can excel. It goes without saying that the latter provides a more likely setting for fostering self-esteem.
In this regard, I noted a recent article citing fifteen vocations thought most likely to proliferate in the near future. It appears that only three of these would require a college degree as a prerequisite. Some areas were more general, such as government service. One would suppose that a college degree would be anticipated in some instances, but not necessarily in others.
Those who have excelled without a college degree are legion. Former president Harry Truman comes to mind. Poor grades disqualified him from applying to West Point, which was a childhood dream, and financial restraint otherwise made it impossible for him to attain a degree.
All things considered, I am reminded of an occasion when a certain congressman met with perhaps forty local residents. One complained that having received a college education, she was unable to find a suitable position. She felt that available employment was unacceptable because of her advanced training.
Of course, a college education can enrich life. If for no other reason, it should be commended. Otherwise, one should carefully weigh the alternatives.
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Article submitted Wednesday, June 16, 2010 & read 597 times.
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