Education And The American Dream Essay
Education and The American Dream
The American Dream was defined by James Truslow Adams in 1931 as, "Life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement"(Clark). Today, a college degree, owning your own home and achieving more success than the generation prior has become synonymous with the American Dream, with most believing it is an attainable goal for anyone who puts in the effort. Barack Obama has recently fueled this belief by vowing that the United States will have the highest percentage of college graduates in the world by 2020 (Marklein). "We 're force-feeding them the idea that you must go to college or you 'll be a second-class citizen," says Marty Nemko, a California …show more content…
Department of Education found that only twenty-eight percent of community college students completed a two-year degree in three years (Rooney). The policy and analysis group, College Measures, found that in two-year degree programs, only about forty percent of students graduate or transfer to four year schools (Hefling).
Richard Vedder, an economics professor at Ohio University, says it’s not true that everyone needs at least a two-year degree. In reference to Obama’s goal to have the highest percentage of college graduates Vedder says, "When I heard that, I was somewhat shocked because I think it 's an impossible dream. A huge percentage of our nation 's human capital is created in on-the-job training, not through formal schooling"(Sanchez).
Professor Lerman, an American University economist, said some high school graduates would be better served by being taught how to behave and communicate in the workplace. Such skills are ranked among the most desired — even ahead of educational attainment — in many surveys of employers. In one 2008 survey of more than 2,000 businesses in Washington State, employers said entry-level workers appeared to be most deficient in being able to “solve problems and make decisions”, “resolve conflict and negotiate”, “cooperate with others” and “listen actively”
The American Dream was defined by James Truslow Adams in 1931 as, "Life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement"(Clark). Today, a college degree, owning your own home and achieving more success than the generation prior has become synonymous with the American Dream, with most believing it is an attainable goal for anyone who puts in the effort. Barack Obama has recently fueled this belief by vowing that the United States will have the highest percentage of college graduates in the world by 2020 (Marklein). "We 're force-feeding them the idea that you must go to college or you 'll be a second-class citizen," says Marty Nemko, a California …show more content…
Department of Education found that only twenty-eight percent of community college students completed a two-year degree in three years (Rooney). The policy and analysis group, College Measures, found that in two-year degree programs, only about forty percent of students graduate or transfer to four year schools (Hefling).
Richard Vedder, an economics professor at Ohio University, says it’s not true that everyone needs at least a two-year degree. In reference to Obama’s goal to have the highest percentage of college graduates Vedder says, "When I heard that, I was somewhat shocked because I think it 's an impossible dream. A huge percentage of our nation 's human capital is created in on-the-job training, not through formal schooling"(Sanchez).
Professor Lerman, an American University economist, said some high school graduates would be better served by being taught how to behave and communicate in the workplace. Such skills are ranked among the most desired — even ahead of educational attainment — in many surveys of employers. In one 2008 survey of more than 2,000 businesses in Washington State, employers said entry-level workers appeared to be most deficient in being able to “solve problems and make decisions”, “resolve conflict and negotiate”, “cooperate with others” and “listen actively”