Assignment for Tues, Sept 8th
BELIEVING
As the society is developing rapidly, people are urgently looking for a most effective way to get a well-paid job. College with a four-year degree seems to have been the most popular option so far. However, author points out college is not for everyone. Mike Rowe says, “We’ve convinced ourselves that ‘good jobs’ are the result of a four-year degree. That’s bunk. Not all knowledge comes from college. Skill is back in demand. Steel-toed boots are back in fashion.” That’s true indeed.
As more and more people go to college to struggle for the jobs with more earnings than those who do not go to college, left plenty of jobs with paying above the national averge and actually do not require college. And American employers keep complaining about a shortage of these kinds of skilled workers. That’s absurd, isn’t it?
I have to say, people haven’t realized that college is not the only way to reach a self-fulfillment eventually. They can still be successful through other skills, futher education and entrepreneurship. Anyway, the most valuable thing for people to know is that they are always learning something new no matter what it is or in which way they are learning.
DOUBTING
In this article, author makes a point that college is not for everyone by presenting some examples and statistics. Why does he say so? There is a lack of workers with specific skills some jobs demand in American now, because people are all going to college, and few wants to learn these kinds of skills. Author thinks that many people actually are not understand the real meaning of going to college, and there still some other ways can make them successful. College is not the only way to get a good job. That is, college is not for everyone. It seems to be not well-founded.
However, some skilled jobs are paid above the national average and not requiring college at all. In the fourth paragragh, economists tell that productivity improvements depend more on brains than brawn today. As a result, a large gap in lifetime earnings has appeared between people who go to college and those who do not. But, after comparing with the skilled jobs with high salary, most people are still willing going college. The fact illustrate that they are not just for money with a four-year degree. College education could be exactly where they interested in. Author also raises some other suggestions about jobs, that is good though but also not for everyone. In my opinion, it is not wise for author to judge people’s intent of going to college by earning more or not.
College is not for everyone? Maybe. But not just because people left lots of skilled jobs while they are going to college. The reason is obviously not strong enough. People can choose whatever they like to learn, and in which way they want to be successful.
