serves Americans well? It used to be that a 4-year college education was considered a wise thing to get, partly because you'd earn more money in your lifetime and partly because you'd be doing something 'more fulfilling' for yourself, whatever; but in recent years the cost of higher education has become prohibitive in itself. Now college graduates often find themselves in enormous debt from college loans (which cannot be discharged in bankruptcy). What's more, they often can't find jobs in their chosen field after graduation.
But on top of that, many professions now require more than just a BA or BS degree, they require a master's degree or doctorate degree. Even professions like massage therapy now require some amount of formal education in most states or the individual won't be granted a license to practice massage therapy [what's peculiar about situations like this is that the MT student is required to learn MT techniques which are no longer considered effective, just for the sake of passing the exam and getting the license).
Some will argue (fairly) that there's just so much more information to learn these days (than there was 30-50 years ago), and thus students in fields like engineering, medicine, etc., have no choice but to pursue more and more education. Then, too, Americans have to compete with foreigners to get jobs, and our educational level needs to be comparable to foreign countries.
But does this all really serve the US, and Americans, well? Regarding most professions, does acquiring higher and higher levels of education for these professions give us better service, make the US a better place to live? Or does it just make it harder for people to get the kind of jobs they want to have in life? Does it limit young people's futures too much?
But then again
But on top of that, many professions now require more than just a BA or BS degree, they require a master's degree or doctorate degree. Even professions like massage therapy now require some amount of formal education in most states or the individual won't be granted a license to practice massage therapy [what's peculiar about situations like this is that the MT student is required to learn MT techniques which are no longer considered effective, just for the sake of passing the exam and getting the license).
Some will argue (fairly) that there's just so much more information to learn these days (than there was 30-50 years ago), and thus students in fields like engineering, medicine, etc., have no choice but to pursue more and more education. Then, too, Americans have to compete with foreigners to get jobs, and our educational level needs to be comparable to foreign countries.
But does this all really serve the US, and Americans, well? Regarding most professions, does acquiring higher and higher levels of education for these professions give us better service, make the US a better place to live? Or does it just make it harder for people to get the kind of jobs they want to have in life? Does it limit young people's futures too much?
But then again