Marcia Selsor on mon 5 jun 00
Dear Cindy,
Over the past 10-15 years higher education among state colleges has had
the trend due to competing for students that the students is the
customer and the University is the "sales person".
The era of student grievences over low grades has ended here but it went
on for a long time.
I agree that people who love to learn will continue to seek knowledge
one way or another, but that is not where state funded higher education
is going. In Montana there was an effort to get them through in 4 years
no extra classes allowed. After 128-134 credits students would be
charged out of state tuition. The Regents wanted students to be
employable especially in the state of Montana.
I doubt if they stay for the poor wages. Students expect to earn
$30,000/year upon completely their degrees. That is a national average
but not here. Montana may be beautiful but the state infra structure is
crumbling and the income per capita among the lowest in the country.
Students expect good grades for showing up and not doing much of
anything. It is really discouraging as a teacher. My friend says you can
only be a teacher if you have a room full of learners. I have taught in
other countries and I know the attitude on my campus is dismal towards
the love of learning and what an education means. I think the cost of
living in Montana is fairly inexpensive for artists to survive. But
artists need to ship out the work or sell it to movie stars in Paradise
Valley.
Marcia
Cindy Strnad wrote:
>
> Hi, Joyce.
>
> As you know, I'm not an expert in this field, but I'd like to comment
> anyway. Just put in my two cents. I love going to school. I love learning
> new things and will never stop, and if I could afford it, I'd probably go
> for another degree in one thing or another, but I believe it's more sensible
> for people to pursue a degree for the sake of gaining the knowledge and
> experience available in a study environment than for the hope of raking in
> the bucks when they hit the "real world".
>
> The idea of getting a master's degree in hope of future increased earning
> potential *directly* related to having a master's degree often leads to
> disappointment. The original idea behind these degrees, if I remember
> correctly, was to produce a well-rounded person--not necessarily an
> employable person.
>
> Most of the folks I know who own one of these coveted master's degrees
> aren't making as much money as your average self-employed, successful small
> business person (who graduated from HS and then went to work). I'll never
> forget the remark of my favorite history teacher in HS. He had something
> like six or seven brothers and they were a black family in the south, during
> a time when race made things even harder than it does now. Nevertheless, his
> father managed to put all the children except one through college. The one
> who chose not to go to college went into business for himself, and my
> teacher told me ruefully, "He's making more money than any of the rest of
> us."
>
> Now that's not to say that making more money is the be-all and end-all to
> success. Of course, on the other hand, if you can't pay your light bill, all
> the letters behind your name probably won't comfort you or your family a
> great deal. There's got to be a balance. Academic knowledge is important.
> Making enough money is important. But the first does not necessarily lead to
> the second. Sometimes the knowledge we really need can only be got through
> living, taking the knocks, and keeping on.j
>
> So, my conclusion is that people need to have realistic expectations as to
> what they will get from higher education. They will get (one hopes) a more
> well-rounded knowledge base--a foundation which will help them to ground the
> knowledge they will, in the future, gather from the "real world". They will
> *not* get a pre-packaged success kit which will guarantee them a good
> job/successful business and a continuing and adequate income throughout
> life. As long as people understand what they're buying, there should be
> fewer problems with disappointed expectations.
>
> Cindy Strnad
> earthenv@gwtc.net
> Earthen Vessels Pottery
> RR 1, Box 51
> Custer, SD 57730
>
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--
Marcia Selsor
selsor@imt.net
http://www.imt.net/~mjbmls
http://www.imt.net/~mjbmls/spain99.html
http://www.silverhawk.com/ex99/selsor/welcome.html
WHew536674@CS.COM on tue 6 jun 00
Cindy,
Boy did you hit the nail on the head with your comment about a small business
man with a H.S. education making more money than one with a graduate degree
in art. That is life in the Hewlett household!
Joyce A
Mission, TX
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