<p>The author (M. Murray) of the NYT essay did hit on some social changes which are upcoming regarding education. However he did miss the actual causes, in part because of what appears be his own specially fitted set of elitist blinders. </p>
<p>Concerning his contention that some refocus is needed concerning the bachelors degree, he does have some relevant points. However what he does miss, is the economic costs of such a degree versus its long term potential for individual success. Simply put the costs of a bachelors (courtesy of usurious lenders) is increasingly impossible to reconcile in regards to potential income. 30,000+ for a Bach, to obtain a jobs which often pay less than that amount yearly simply cannot be sustained. And this is very evident from the NEA's attempt to gain concessions on educational loans for its members (and being a teacher is obviously a trade where a minimum should be a bachelors). So basically it won't be simply the unworthy scions who will drop out from higher education, it will be those within the economic classes who can no longer afford the imbalance between educational costs and benefits. It is a problem which academe has been ignoring but one which cannot be blissfully passed by too much longer. For example I currently teach at a gateway school and have come to advise students to look very carefully at the consequences of pursuing their education beyond a certain point. This is a disturbing necessity insofar as I have a terminal degree in my field, but cannot in good conscience recommend others do as I did. </p>
<p>About the idea that a certain percentage of high school students lack the abilities to usefully finish or apply a bachelors, quite true. But this has little to do with inherent ability rather it is a condition caused by the mire which has conceptually contaminated our primary and secondary schools. </p>
<p>In my experience incoming college students have been denied a functional grounding in the skills and knowledge essential for college success. And having worked in communities ranging from reservations, to small towns, to large cities it is distressingly consistent how poor the preparation has been with incoming college students. </p>
<p>As a result at many gateway schools what the academics have to do is first remedy for 12 years of questionable primary and secondary education. Granted those who come from affluent communities or can attend good private schools can escape this box, but very few others are able to do so. In that regard the elitism of the author can barely be justified, it is more a matter of but for the grace of god and fortunate birth can one avoid these problems. In that regard CC's are not educational ghettos in and of themselves it's more a matter of the adaptations they have had to make to compensate for limitations in the lower echelons. But if they do not make these adaptations the only alternative will be to write off a generation which has been the product of failed primary and secondary educational philosophies. Much of the blame can be placed on constructivist philosophies which were quickly enough corrupted into a educational version of narcissism. At least with other philosophical emphasis such as Dewey or Vygotsky the imperative social aspects of this approaches do ensure that students learn enough to function in group contexts. </p>
<p>As noted with Renee V and others there are school curriculum such as AP's which do achieve the desired end. But these are the exceptions by which the entirety of schools should be operated, but alas are not...</p>
<p>Another factor is that whether or not a bachelors degree is actually needed for certain trades it is needed for the propagation of higher education itself. This is very obvious with all the cliches tossed about in academe about 'lifelong learners'. Usually when this little platitude is tossed about, there is rarely a correlation that higher education needs to serve an stated end. Essentially due to cutbacks and the moral perversion caused by the intrusion of usurious lenders into academe, students are no longer viewed as a population to be served, but rather an asset to be served up to the institution. Until that changes, its very probable that a bachelors will be little more than a expensive right of passage. </p>
<p>And unfortunately its obvious that is exactly what many bachelors degrees have become as is evident from the army of people who possess them who are currently reciting the mantra "do you want fries with that?"</p>