It's no surprise I have promoted the idea of less college for all. Despite the desires of Bill Gates and the Obama Administration to lead the world in college graduates and have 80% of adults with a bachelor's degree, more degrees is not the answer to America's ills, and it will not revive the economy. In fact, more college degree holders simply drives down the demand for such highly skilled workers while increasing the demand for jobs - thus, voila, lower wages for traditionally middle class fields.
Now, Ed Quillen of the Denver Post has offered an insightful contribution to the college loan/college debt/college-for-all debate. In Quillen's lucid analysis, increasing the guaranteed money available for college loans only leads to colleges raising tuition. And, there is no reason that so many employers have decreed that a bachelor degree is the screening device for a job. Thus, Quillen believe employers should no longer be allowed to use education credentials as a screening process. Imagine that. Of course, it could be a logistical nightmare. But if employers simply had to screen candidates based on individual testing processes, fewer would feel the need to pursue a degree that may very well be useless in their field.
The classic example Quillen throws out is our wise "rail-splitting"President, Abe Lincoln, who earned his license to practice law through a simply display of knowledge, rather than a degree. And, seriously. If someone can pass the bar exam, does he really need the degree to back it up? Does someone really need the education degree to step into a classroom? Can't a scientist design rocket without attending a university?
Can't a surgeon operate on your brain without ... ?
OK, there are some caveats.
But Quillen has a good point.
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