DlCKI am actually an advocate for a system that provides paid community college/vocational school (2 years) for poor students who cant afford to take out any debt and can fill the huge need for skilled laborers. We dont need more psychology majors.
Check out this article.
http://world.time.com/2012/10/04/who-needs-college-the-swiss-opt-for-vocational-school/
Brilliant model if you ask me. As OneNerdyKid has described before, a similar system is in place in Austria and I believe there is one in Germany as well. It is a shame that fellow American citizens are unwilling to try a system that can provide this kind of education. The last paragraph highlights why quite well, too many people would complain about the division of students within high school as well as the regulations that would be introduced into the marketplace. I think the article has missed a few other factors as well.
Firstly, I think that the country's politicians are partially to blame. Too many are advocating for a college degree, something that not everyone is smart enough for or desires. As a result, we are at a point where if one has a degree the job market is so saturated with degrees it is almost impossible to find one that can help provide a livable wage while paying off debt that most students have accumulated.
Secondly, many politicians and social activists would proclaim everyone has a right to a college education and that this kind of system would put some, namely minorities, at an inherent disadvantage. I think this is wrong to a certain degree. While it may start off as a system that allows those who have access to better public education to succeed, over time school districts would improve as the higher wages provided to those who can attend these VETs and colleges would be distributed to these districts through taxes.
Finally, I think that a combination of the two factors listed above has caused society to look at VETs and vocational careers as a lesser career than what colleges or universities can provide. People need to realize that blue-collared careers are not bad, nor do they pay poorly. Rather, they are some of the most respectable careers out there, because without them society would have difficulty functioning.
Anyways, thats my 2¢ on the whole idea of education. Some of you probably have read it before.
