On Institutions of Higher Learning

My Truth

As the parent of a student in my class, you should be aware that I do NOT believe in the U.S. educational process, which emphasizes college as a crucial aspect of success. I believe that these institutions of higher learning need to justify their status and face more consequences for their failures: namely the inability to adequately prepare young adults with the skills they need in the current economy AND the overwhelming levels of student debt. And colleges and universities are failing. Overwhelmingly.

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I just finished writing a letter of recommendation for a student about to embark on the college journey. I've written much less this year, because I did not have juniors last year, so those that I have written have been for those students who took my sophomore English 10 course two years ago. For this particular individual I turned the last paragraph in a different direction than I had in previous letters:

"I retain little faith in our nation’s overall approach to education, especially because colleges and universities risk little and gain much. The imagined funnel that sends the hopes and dreams of so many young people and their families towards our institutions of learning remains largely unjustified, given the criticism regarding recent college graduates’ lack of initiative. [_] is already fully-formed, serving as a conscientious citizen, capable of [their] own reason and decision-making process. [_] is already making the world a better place. Please do NOT send [_] away in half a decade or so with nothing but debt and an ambiguous sense of urgency."

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Education(?)

For those new to this idea of the connection between the rise of college costs and the unhealthy growth of management positions in colleges and universities, read The Guardian's article, "The irresistible rise of academic bureaucracy," published nine years ago! When education becomes a for-profit effort in any way, the citizens and government will suffer. When citizens become complacent, accepting any system or process without critically analyzing it any further, the defeat of true education is complete. Civic engagement requires that we constantly question the motives and effectiveness of any and all policies. So I invite you to begin analyzing the process...

"And this is the worst crime for which colleges and universities should be most punished: focusing education not on learning, but on grades."

Earlier this year I suggested alternatives to college to a small audience. Among this short list I included the idea of a gap year (or two) where the high-school graduate (entrepreneur) creates an alternative learning pathway and pitches the idea to parents (investors) to gain access to their capital (savings traditionally used to pay for college). The process should also include an iteration process that begins when high school does, where the student continually engages in the search for viable options for the gap year.

Unfortunately, unless you've already provided some kind of support for developing real-world skills in your children, chances are they do not have them, because the typical U.S. school district is not providing the opportunities to develop essential 21st century skills. However, I bet your child and you attribute some kind of value to grades, don't you... And this is the worst crime for which colleges and universities should be most punished: focusing education not on learning, but on grades. So I ask you, where does the skill of getting good grades serve us after college? Where else in this life to we get graded? Anyone?

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The Edge

Please don't worry. I still plan to prepare your child in some meaningful way where they will still find success in college. And I gladly admit that a lot of young people will benefit immeasurably from their college experience. But that's my point: not all people will benefit from college, or at least not enough. In fact, given the cost, many families can and do suffer as a result of $40,000.00 in student debt (see the Forbes article, Student Loan Debt Statistics In 2018: A $1.5 Trillion Crisis).

My own experience shapes my view. I enrolled in an undergraduate degree at 31 years old with the goal of a career in education, after years of living around the country working various jobs (custodian, construction worker, farm laborer, cook, waiter, log home builder, furnace technician), living around the U.S. in 7 states, traveling through New Zealand, Mexico, the Middle East, and Antarctica. Thus, I arrived with a clear vision and a thirst for knowledge. At college some young adults impressed me with their own goals and drive, but most floated along aimlessly, following a wispy hope of discovering their passion somewhere in the sprawl of their courses; foundering daily without an intention to commit to some ambiguous career path.

Still, I do not push my own journey onto others. We all must find our own way. Having attended university for 4 years beyond my undergraduate degree, I do find value in college. I would not own the option to do what I do without my degrees. I only wonder how we might allow young adults experience before, and beyond, the false safety that institutions of higher learning offer.