English 1301
Dr. Ann M. Pearson
April 9, 2014 “College is Not a Waste”
In Bird’s article, “College is a Waste of Time and Money”, she approaches the topic of higher education as, “a ticket to the big show”, rather than the continuation of education in a chosen career field culminated with the tools to hone oneself socially and professionally. Furthermore, it would seem that personal accountability counts for naught, as she assigns the blame to societal values that influence attendance of these learning institutions. Social values play an integral role in everyday life but that does not mean that the entire populace has been brainwashed into collective servitude; nor do they regulate the desire or disregard …show more content…
Although this has been established, throughout the years we have witnessed a surge in the propaganda expressing the importance of going to college to advance in the professional world. She then places her theoretical foundation on college admission rates spiking as a result of social and corporate hype. Unbelievably within a decade, the national college census waned due to the influx in dropout rates and reduced admissions. “A college knows it can charge $40,000 a year for tuition because the government will make it possible for a student to borrow $40,000. If the government stopped, tuition would drop”, observes Jack White. Was this incursion based on plausibility of Bird’s theory that students and future prospective pupils stopped believing college is necessary to succeed? Her theory is lacking necessary contributing factors, such as: financial feasibility, childcare considerations, and time restrictions that regulate people’s availability and …show more content…
Monetary issues with admission fees and book costs became a thing of the past, allowing those of less fortunate backgrounds to heighten their chances for a successful future. During the era which her concept is based upon, the Vietnam War likely would have played a significant role in the decline of admissions, as well as the increase in dropout rates. Primarily, the military draft during that period drafted young men of college age to serve overseas. Therein producing the no-win situation by forcing course withdrawal and causing the drop in potential future scholars. A further consideration of the ‘baby boomer’ population must influence the equation as an upturn in the college aged is bound to fluctuate the