Summary Essay
College Education
In today’s society, many students are encouraged by parents, teachers, and counselors to attend college after high school to continue his or her education. The students are often told that if they attend college, they will make more money in the future. This is not always true. In the article “Are Too Many People Going to College?” by Charles Murray, Murray debates the importance of attending college. Murray believes that attending college should not be encouraged for all high school students because each student is different. He encourages each student to look at his or her specific qualities and strengths before deciding the path they will take after graduating high school. Murray states that liberal education should be taught before college, four year brick-and-mortar colleges are not necessary anymore, and B.A.’s should not be required for all majors.
Students should be taught liberal education before they get to college. Murray believes that students are capable of learning liberal education, history, science, art, music, and literature, before they attend college (Murray 225). Learning liberal education before college would benefit the student when they are in college because they would be able to understand the material without having to study it first. Murray explains, “So let’s teach it [history, science, and great works of art, music, and literature] to them, but let’s not wait for college to do it” (Murray 225). In other words, Murray believes that if a student chooses to attend college, learning liberal educations before furthering his or her education will benefit the quality of the education (Murray 225). Liberal education should be introduced to the students in high school for the first time rather than in college.
Four year brick-and-mortar schools are not as necessary as they were in the past. Murray suggests that brick-and-mortar schools are not necessary anymore because our society and technology has become more advanced. With the advancement of society and technology, books and study groups have become available online and no longer require libraries for studying (Murray 230). Murray himself states, “All three rationales [a good library, colleagueship, and student-teacher interaction] for the brick-and-mortar campus are fading fast” (Murray 230). He explains that the previous rationales are not a reason to keep brick-and-mortar schools any longer. New technology is the main reason that the brick-and-mortar schools are no longer the most popular option of secondary education, and neither is just obtaining a B.A.
Obtaining a B.A. in college is usually required for every occupation. Murray strongly believes that B.A.’s should not be recommended for every college student. Other occupations would benefit more from on-the-job training than from graduating college with a B.A. The only problem that Murry states about getting a B.A. is that employers don’t even give the applicant a chance if they do not have a degree (Murray 233). According to Murray, “Employers do not value what the student has learned, just that the student has a degree” (Murry 233). Murray’s point is that employers do not allow students to learn the best way they can because the students believe they must obtain a degree, or they will not be able to get a job (Murray 233). Students would become better employees if they chose the right path for them without deciding which option would make them more money.
In conclusion, in Charles Murray’s article “Are Too Many People Going to College?”, Murray believes that each student should pick his or her path after high school based on personal strengths. He states that the choices that are available are not the best options. Murray’s main points in this essay are that liberal education should be taught before going to college, four year brick-and-mortar colleges are not necessary, and B.A.’s should not be required for all occupations.
Works Cited
Charles Murray. "Are Too Many People Going to College?" They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 179-189. Print
In today’s society, many students are encouraged by parents, teachers, and counselors to attend college after high school to continue his or her education. The students are often told that if they attend college, they will make more money in the future. This is not always true. In the article “Are Too Many People Going to College?” by Charles Murray, Murray debates the importance of attending college. Murray believes that attending college should not be encouraged for all high school students because each student is different. He encourages each student to look at his or her specific qualities and strengths before deciding the path they will take after graduating high school. Murray states that liberal education should be taught before college, four year brick-and-mortar colleges are not necessary anymore, and B.A.’s should not be required for all majors.
Students should be taught liberal education before they get to college. Murray believes that students are capable of learning liberal education, history, science, art, music, and literature, before they attend college (Murray 225). Learning liberal education before college would benefit the student when they are in college because they would be able to understand the material without having to study it first. Murray explains, “So let’s teach it [history, science, and great works of art, music, and literature] to them, but let’s not wait for college to do it” (Murray 225). In other words, Murray believes that if a student chooses to attend college, learning liberal educations before furthering his or her education will benefit the quality of the education (Murray 225). Liberal education should be introduced to the students in high school for the first time rather than in college.
Four year brick-and-mortar schools are not as necessary as they were in the past. Murray suggests that brick-and-mortar schools are not necessary anymore because our society and technology has become more advanced. With the advancement of society and technology, books and study groups have become available online and no longer require libraries for studying (Murray 230). Murray himself states, “All three rationales [a good library, colleagueship, and student-teacher interaction] for the brick-and-mortar campus are fading fast” (Murray 230). He explains that the previous rationales are not a reason to keep brick-and-mortar schools any longer. New technology is the main reason that the brick-and-mortar schools are no longer the most popular option of secondary education, and neither is just obtaining a B.A.
Obtaining a B.A. in college is usually required for every occupation. Murray strongly believes that B.A.’s should not be recommended for every college student. Other occupations would benefit more from on-the-job training than from graduating college with a B.A. The only problem that Murry states about getting a B.A. is that employers don’t even give the applicant a chance if they do not have a degree (Murray 233). According to Murray, “Employers do not value what the student has learned, just that the student has a degree” (Murry 233). Murray’s point is that employers do not allow students to learn the best way they can because the students believe they must obtain a degree, or they will not be able to get a job (Murray 233). Students would become better employees if they chose the right path for them without deciding which option would make them more money.
In conclusion, in Charles Murray’s article “Are Too Many People Going to College?”, Murray believes that each student should pick his or her path after high school based on personal strengths. He states that the choices that are available are not the best options. Murray’s main points in this essay are that liberal education should be taught before going to college, four year brick-and-mortar colleges are not necessary, and B.A.’s should not be required for all occupations.
Works Cited
Charles Murray. "Are Too Many People Going to College?" They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 179-189. Print