High School and College Grads: You Have Been Lied for Too Long
Posted: Wednesday, October 20, 2010
by Jeff Brown
Inner Projection
In 2004, 89% of high school graduates planed to obtain a bachelors degree. However, less than half were able to do so. Currently, only about 28% of the population has a bachelors degree. But the bad news is that within five to ten years 70% of those college grads are no longer working in a field related to their major.
And some may say, well, that's good, at least they have a degree. Not in the greatest sense because if you have spent all your time learning accounting, biology, or mathematics and you are in an unrelated field, you have a mostly empty degree. And considering that our long-term memory fades without use that "education" is soon gone. There are very few people with biology degrees being hired as accountants.
But even more importantly is the question, why? Why is all of this happening, and can we do something about it? Well, I'm glad you asked. Let's delve deeper into the issue at hand to understand the numerous misconceptions about education.
I hear people talk about getting an "eduction," and in accordance with what I know, it far too often rings hollow. I hear the word "eduction" being thrown around like "amazing" and "awesome," often over used and over stated; for what an education is, is actually quite complex, and much less than what many perceive it to be, but ideally it should be more, much more .
When the word "education" is invoked, people usually associate it with earning a living. But few see it as an opportunity to grow in wisdom, life skills, and productive attitudes, all of which are critical to success in career and life. But more see it as a kind of safe-haven, a security blanket that will wrap them in "everything's okay" or "job security," a most unfortunate misconception which does not exist.
Regardless, the reality is that few not only don't understand what "education" means but who they are, what the work-a-day world entails, nor that a bachelor's degree is not needed to make good money or to embark on a career, or that a solid income can be made with certain certificates and associate degrees even more so than many existing bachelor degrees provide. To top it off, there are many who under-utilize their bachelors to the point that they should have gotten a certificate or associates degree in the first place.
Let's go a little deeper, shall we?
Myth: A bachelors degree is necessary to get a good job.
Too often people speak of jobs. I'd like to expand this concept to career, pursuit, or even livelihood. I like that best, "conduct of life" or "way of life." Doesn't this take on a deeper meaning rather than that of merely doing something that provides income? For if you look at what you do to merely provide income, in most cases sooner than later you will run out of gas because you have put the cart before the horse. For if the focus is not on something that you are passionate about, then how can you get up week after week, month after month, year after year, decade after decade, even, and drag yourself into work? Just like a marriage, a business, or a human being, either your career is growing or dying. And if you don't have enough fertilizer then that career will die sooner than later.
Don't merely focus on the degree, any degree, get to know you first and foremost because if you don't know you, how can you match you to a career that is right for you? You need to know your intelligence and personality type, values, strengths and weaknesses, gifts and abilities, and so much more before you can find that career that will last more than just a few years.
Myth: Education is the cure-all and end-all.
It should be, but in its present form it falls far, far short of the mark, as I stated above. But there is more.
Education should encompass the whole package. Education should be about knowledge used to obtain a skill or job, for certain, but it is critical that it entail the encouragement of creative thought and problem-solving critical thinking skills, as well (50% of our GDP comes from the creative sector). And being able to think creatively, critically, even intuitively is vital in today's world.
Consider that in this day-n-age of multiple careers, if you don't learn how to learn, you are toast. With most averaging three to five careers at this point, will you go back to school to obtain a four-year degree every time you change careers?
But there's more that is needed for an "education," much, much more.
What of moral responsibility? Work ethic? Accountability? Focus? Ability to handle failure? Commitment? Understanding of self? Life preferences? And what of strengths, talents, and gifts, never mind, weaknesses? for they will take down years of hard work faster than you can say "failed thinking."
Yes, now we are beginning to tap that which is truly "education."
"Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it."-- The Buddha
It is about passion, isn't it? But this part of "education" is rarely addressed. But should it be a surprise since the education system dictates to a passive student ideas and ideals that are often unproven or just downright wrong.
Why is it that so many people in their late-twenties to early-thirties find something amiss in their lives and begin searching? To the greatest degree it is because most of what I have mentioned above and more is not a part of the education experience. Revisit the statistic for clarification: within five to ten years, 70% of college grads are no longer working in a field related to their major. Why? See above.
But even among teachers who are aware of what I have been speaking to, they say that the above should be taught by parents or churches or that "soft skills" are hard to teach. Hardly. I've been teaching them for years, the results? Often many an open, fixed gaze peers back at me not only interested but bewildered that most are in their twenties only hearing this critical information for the first time.
Do they get it? Yes. Does it work?
Well, I had one student mid-semester after learning some of these "soft skills" determine that he not only wanted to be an EMT (something he had been wavering on) but that he was going to do it out of state, a desire he had for some time and fully committed to upon learning or becoming aware of much of that mentioned above. He actually was so inspired, he moved out of California to Nevada and finished my class via Internet.
In the big picture, we've been deceiving our youth for a long time. Nothing new here. We have foisted unworkable programs onto our youth like the "No child left behind," "DARE" or "abstinence" programs that have unrealistic expectations and often provide inaccurate or incomplete information. Hardly well-needed assistance. Professor James E. Rosenbaum, a professor of education and social policy at Northwester University, along with his research team, states that "We are mystified by what we are increasingly seeing as idealism that prevents optimal outcomes across youth-related fields."
Well people, I just think it's about time we got some straight talk out to our kids and we stop the deception for whatever self-interested, self-serving, fear-perpetuating, paranoid reason(s). If you are a counselor at a high school or college who is worried about losing your job but less so ruining or considerably waylaying hundreds if not thousands young lives, I suggest you lose your job to the benefit of the greater good, for that is democracy and the honorable thing to do.
I'd like to close with some straight-talk and facts about education that I would like passed onto parents and their children. Let's get the ball rolling and get the message out as to what "eduction" really means, shall we?
These facts and stats come from "Beyond One-Size-Fits-All College Dreams: Alternative Pathways to Desirable Careers": American Educator, Vol 34, NO 3 | Fall 2010.
I am here at your disposal. Hope to be talking with you and your student of greatest interest soon. God bless.
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And some may say, well, that's good, at least they have a degree. Not in the greatest sense because if you have spent all your time learning accounting, biology, or mathematics and you are in an unrelated field, you have a mostly empty degree. And considering that our long-term memory fades without use that "education" is soon gone. There are very few people with biology degrees being hired as accountants.
I hear people talk about getting an "eduction," and in accordance with what I know, it far too often rings hollow. I hear the word "eduction" being thrown around like "amazing" and "awesome," often over used and over stated; for what an education is, is actually quite complex, and much less than what many perceive it to be, but ideally it should be more, much more .
When the word "education" is invoked, people usually associate it with earning a living. But few see it as an opportunity to grow in wisdom, life skills, and productive attitudes, all of which are critical to success in career and life. But more see it as a kind of safe-haven, a security blanket that will wrap them in "everything's okay" or "job security," a most unfortunate misconception which does not exist.
Regardless, the reality is that few not only don't understand what "education" means but who they are, what the work-a-day world entails, nor that a bachelor's degree is not needed to make good money or to embark on a career, or that a solid income can be made with certain certificates and associate degrees even more so than many existing bachelor degrees provide. To top it off, there are many who under-utilize their bachelors to the point that they should have gotten a certificate or associates degree in the first place.
Let's go a little deeper, shall we?
Myth: A bachelors degree is necessary to get a good job.
Too often people speak of jobs. I'd like to expand this concept to career, pursuit, or even livelihood. I like that best, "conduct of life" or "way of life." Doesn't this take on a deeper meaning rather than that of merely doing something that provides income? For if you look at what you do to merely provide income, in most cases sooner than later you will run out of gas because you have put the cart before the horse. For if the focus is not on something that you are passionate about, then how can you get up week after week, month after month, year after year, decade after decade, even, and drag yourself into work? Just like a marriage, a business, or a human being, either your career is growing or dying. And if you don't have enough fertilizer then that career will die sooner than later.
Don't merely focus on the degree, any degree, get to know you first and foremost because if you don't know you, how can you match you to a career that is right for you? You need to know your intelligence and personality type, values, strengths and weaknesses, gifts and abilities, and so much more before you can find that career that will last more than just a few years.
Myth: Education is the cure-all and end-all.
It should be, but in its present form it falls far, far short of the mark, as I stated above. But there is more.
Education should encompass the whole package. Education should be about knowledge used to obtain a skill or job, for certain, but it is critical that it entail the encouragement of creative thought and problem-solving critical thinking skills, as well (50% of our GDP comes from the creative sector). And being able to think creatively, critically, even intuitively is vital in today's world.
Consider that in this day-n-age of multiple careers, if you don't learn how to learn, you are toast. With most averaging three to five careers at this point, will you go back to school to obtain a four-year degree every time you change careers?
But there's more that is needed for an "education," much, much more.
What of moral responsibility? Work ethic? Accountability? Focus? Ability to handle failure? Commitment? Understanding of self? Life preferences? And what of strengths, talents, and gifts, never mind, weaknesses? for they will take down years of hard work faster than you can say "failed thinking."
Yes, now we are beginning to tap that which is truly "education."
"Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it."-- The Buddha
It is about passion, isn't it? But this part of "education" is rarely addressed. But should it be a surprise since the education system dictates to a passive student ideas and ideals that are often unproven or just downright wrong.
Why is it that so many people in their late-twenties to early-thirties find something amiss in their lives and begin searching? To the greatest degree it is because most of what I have mentioned above and more is not a part of the education experience. Revisit the statistic for clarification: within five to ten years, 70% of college grads are no longer working in a field related to their major. Why? See above.
But even among teachers who are aware of what I have been speaking to, they say that the above should be taught by parents or churches or that "soft skills" are hard to teach. Hardly. I've been teaching them for years, the results? Often many an open, fixed gaze peers back at me not only interested but bewildered that most are in their twenties only hearing this critical information for the first time.
Do they get it? Yes. Does it work?
Well, I had one student mid-semester after learning some of these "soft skills" determine that he not only wanted to be an EMT (something he had been wavering on) but that he was going to do it out of state, a desire he had for some time and fully committed to upon learning or becoming aware of much of that mentioned above. He actually was so inspired, he moved out of California to Nevada and finished my class via Internet.
In the big picture, we've been deceiving our youth for a long time. Nothing new here. We have foisted unworkable programs onto our youth like the "No child left behind," "DARE" or "abstinence" programs that have unrealistic expectations and often provide inaccurate or incomplete information. Hardly well-needed assistance. Professor James E. Rosenbaum, a professor of education and social policy at Northwester University, along with his research team, states that "We are mystified by what we are increasingly seeing as idealism that prevents optimal outcomes across youth-related fields."
Well people, I just think it's about time we got some straight talk out to our kids and we stop the deception for whatever self-interested, self-serving, fear-perpetuating, paranoid reason(s). If you are a counselor at a high school or college who is worried about losing your job but less so ruining or considerably waylaying hundreds if not thousands young lives, I suggest you lose your job to the benefit of the greater good, for that is democracy and the honorable thing to do.
I'd like to close with some straight-talk and facts about education that I would like passed onto parents and their children. Let's get the ball rolling and get the message out as to what "eduction" really means, shall we?
These facts and stats come from "Beyond One-Size-Fits-All College Dreams: Alternative Pathways to Desirable Careers": American Educator, Vol 34, NO 3 | Fall 2010.
- BAs guarantee higher earnings: On average this is true. On average. But it is not the BA that is an end-all and cure-all. If the student is an underachiever in high school, it translates to college. It also depends on what type of degree the student desires . A teacher is not going to make as much as a software engineer. As a matter of fact, those with AAs in such areas as computer specialist, engineering technician, mechanic, dental and medical assistant, and insurance appraiser will generate more income than many BAs. Another point to consider is that the BA "payoff" has declined in recent years, as well because of salaries leveling off.
- High earnings signal good jobs: Manyjobs that "pay well" often do so to offset poor conditions: dirty, demanding, dangerous, dead-end (or won't lead to long-term payoffs), and deceptive (promising high commissions that never occur). One really needs to look beyond the myth to the reality. Personally, I was paid quite well as a computer programmer, but the fact is that it is a very demanding, stressful field, one of the main reasons I no longer work in the filed. One must certainly look beyond pay / initial pay to other factors to determine job satisfaction. The following are some of the most-desired factors by employees outside of salary: feedback, autonomy, skill variety, say in decisions, workload, safety, stress, and fairness of pay.
- A BA guarantees million-dollar lifetime payoff: Here's an interesting point: "This oversimplified message does not warn students that some of them will receive lower earnings from a BA than most associate degree recipients, despite the fact that these lower earnings are predictable from students' achievement, college, major." Rosenbaum, Stephan, Rosenbaum.
- The promise of college access: Here's some inside information most are not aware of in considering the myths of "education." Guidance counselors used to be "gate keepers" or protected students from going where they should not educationally. Today, they no longer play that role. And with the open-admission of community colleges and even many four-year colleges, this has created more havoc. Some of this occurs because of budget cuts and lack of counselors or counselors who are just afraid to tell the truth because they might get fired. But what many students don't understand is that they are taking a lot of courses that are not transferable or remedial courses. Yes, they are not aware because no one is telling them until it is too late or they have dropped out.
- What high school students don't know is killing them: "High school students are rarely given good information about what college requires, how prepared they are, and what steps would prepare them. Especially in low-income communities" ("Beyond One-Sixe-Fits-All College Dreams).
Consider another issue, that high school exit exams are geared toward a greater percentage of those passing so that districts can get funding, and when students take the college entry exams they discover, to their surprise, a great gap. Another issue is that most who need to take remedial classes don't graduate, so once again, it's not the degree but what the student has inside in readiness for college and life, even, outside of what any degree can do for them.
I am here at your disposal. Hope to be talking with you and your student of greatest interest soon. God bless.
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Top-level comments on this article: (6 total)I have very little faith in formal education. I think perhaps there's a benefit to the socialization that happens, but the actual material taught, and the guidance? I don't think there's much happening there!Having been in the education field for upwards of twelve years (two k-12; ten college), I find the whole education ideal blown way out of proportion. I think to avoid major failing it all begins with awareness of self and education limitations or mis-statements and lack of information. I estimate that most students are missing about 80% of what they truly need not only for career but life. Truly sad but I am bringing this issue to national attention.
Very insightful article and aptly expressed the phenomenon of students and the post-graduation that follows. I can't agree more Jeff, they need a direction guide to lead them to the right path and you are right there to offer tips and hints. We have a saying " don't study dead books" meaning a student only studies without any focus on the outside world. Once he leaves school, he will find the outside world doesn't fix him in. He is a stranger, suddenly and lost. Practical is more important than that piece of Cert in his hand.
You have done a good job !Here's some more stats: 1/3 of all public high school students drop out. Of the 89% who desire to attend college and graduate in 2007, less than half did so. Of the current 28% of the population that has a bachelors, within 5-10 70% will no longer be working in a field related to their major. A whole lot of wrong going on here. You mention the "outside world" and many who dropped out of high school couldn't relate their schooling to the outside world or dropped out because the outside world demanded they do so. Our schools are certainly out of touch with many things.This reminds me of something..........may be the students can make a short-cut if their parents allow since 1/3 drop out halfway, half of the 89% sing an opposite tune and the rest not exactly hold some thing related to their hard - earned major (if they did do) At the end of the day, there isn't what life is supposed to be meant that way. Attitudes, mindset & gratitude have to include for a more accurate and successful living.
Great article. People need to get this info. From what high schoolers need to what BA's have and don't need. How does the money grabbing University system change? The info you have could be considered revolutionary, if you know what I mean.Thanks Chris. It's one of the messages I'm spreading to the world. But I"m currently privatizing some of the critical need most are missing in a formal education. I'm putting together a workshop in Vegas with a friend of mine who understands what education begins with and that's a strong, solidified inner state that enables focus, goal setting and obtainment, creative and intuitive problem solving, being able to deal with challenges and set backs and so much more that if kids don't have regardless of the knowledge obtained will not ensure success and achievement. Thanks for the encouragement.
My Dear Colleague, I will spread this on my FB. This is more than informative, this is "Enlightening."As I always say, Dr., you are the MAN! :O)
A very insightful article Jeff. Can't say that I have high hopes that it will be embraced by more than a few. Good information though, and who knows how many will be touched and helped by this. Thanks.My only desire is to continue to my grave preaching this critical information sans any misguided, overly intellectualized, methodized insight from academics who always seem to miss the mark in shooting for the head not the heart. Thanks Joyce.
Yes Jeff, I believe education should primarily be to help one see the world for its many wonders. i.e. to acquire wisdom to meet and deal with the world.David, you couldn't have stated a more important truth. Ethics, morals, the spiritual side is critical yet rarely if ever addressed by "educators." Thanks David.
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