How higher Education is viewed in America and why.

[Darius11 12]

Just reading some of the posts and a few threads.

Why is it that higher education is viewed as a bad thing by some in the USA?

I have often wonder why our kids do so horrible in the same public schools that foreigners tend to excel in. I think the answer to that question is culture.
In this culture higher education is not as valued as it is in other cultures.

What I don’t understand is why?

Why is it that some of us look at being a professor as a bad thing? I don’t get it.
So someone studied a subject to become an expert on the matter, most likely spent years and countless time studying the subject to be smarter at that subject then the average. Why is that a bad thing?

Have we all become so narcissistic that we don’t think anyone is smarter then us, at least on some subjects?


Why the hate or dislike towards higher educated people?

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain

[kelpdiver 2]

can you generalize any more?

[Darius11 12]

It is hard to describe an attitude that I have noticed on the Forums lately, and also something I have noticed in the populace as well.

Don’t know how to make it less general, and that’s why I made this thread. People who do think that higher education is BS can speak up; people who think I am imagining things can also feel free to mention that, So feel free contribute something if you wish.

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain

[kelpdiver 2]

it's a loaded topic, one you don't help with your loaded questions, and yes, you make gross generalizations that only discourage any actual discussion.

If America really hated higher education, it would not be the magnet it is for students all over the world.

[Darius11 12]

Also when ever you are speaking of something like education you have to generalize there is no point in showing the exceptions, but you deal with the majority.

Our students in our public schools are generally ranked on the lower end when compared to the world. Yet certain foreigners who have cultures that value education tend to do great in the same system. To me the difference is culture. I have also noticed the attitude of some of the posters on here towards people with higher education and could not understand where the attitude came from.

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain

[DrewEckhardt 0]

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Just reading some of the posts and a few threads.

Why is it that higher education is viewed as a bad thing by some in the USA?

I have often wonder why our kids do so horrible in the same public schools that foreigners tend to excel in. I think the answer to that question is culture.

Public schools in America reflect the local populations' wishes, and are often paid for by the same population.

I lived in a yuppy breeding ground where 95% of the graduating class was college bound. I finished with 27 hours of college credit including a couple semesters each of calculus, physics, computer science, and English liteature; art projects in sculpture and photography; and practical experience in car repair, electronics, and drafting.

In another school in the same district they had problems offering advanced placement classes because the parents claimed it was "unfair to their normal children"

Annecdotally, inner city schools were worse.

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In this culture higher education is not as valued as it is in other cultures.

There isn't "one culture" in America. Most of the people I know are professionals and both them and their kids take school pretty seriously.

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Why the hate or dislike towards higher educated people?

[TrophyHusband 0]

there is a little animosity towards professors because the are more often than not very liberal and some of them use their classroom to indoctrinate impressionable young minds into their ideology. this could explain some of the attitude.

"Your scrotum is quite nice" - Skymama
www.kjandmegan.com

[livendive 8]

Oddly enough, almost every single person who views formal learning (and teaching) poorly is someone who has not had the benefit of such an education. I used to be one of those people, and later discovered that it had been simple jealousy.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[Darius11 12]

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Most of the people I know are professionals and both them and their kids take school pretty seriously.

Thats good to hear. I have noticed the opposite and hope i am wrong.

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain

[kelpdiver 2]

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Oddly enough, almost every single person who views formal learning (and teaching) poorly is someone who has not had the benefit of such an education. I used to be one of those people, and later discovered that it had been simple jealousy.

He's really identified (at least) two different crowds - those who disdain education and those who obtain it, and those who disdain the arrogance/elitism that is so evident in many of the well educated.

When working summer jobs at places like auto shops, I encounted managers of the first type. At Cal I encountered students and teachers of the second type.

[Darius11 12]

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and some of them use their classroom to indoctrinate impressionable young minds into their ideology.

I agree that is wrong. Keep your personal shit to your self and teach your course.

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there is a little animosity towards professors because the are more often than not very liberal

This makes me wonder. Why is that?
Do liberals have more tendency to get higher education? or is it after people get higher education and become professors they become liberal because they went trough the system?

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain

[Andrewwhyte 1]

I am happy being a delta. Who wants to be a beta? Not me, I am happy being a delta.

[downwardspiral 0]

So who exactly has a problem with the higher educated?

www.FourWheelerHB.com

[Darius11 12]

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So who exactly has a problem with the higher educated?

Bob it was bob

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain

[rehmwa 2]

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I used to be one of those people, and later discovered that it had been simple jealousy.

But did you ever use the quote "I'm not very educated, but I have COMMON SENSE - or I am STREET SMART" another quote from the insecure

those are my favorites - a lot like assuming someone athletic or attractive can't also be smart

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[FreeflyChile 0]

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and some of them use their classroom to indoctrinate impressionable young minds into their ideology.

I agree that is wrong. Keep your personal shit to your self and teach your course.

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there is a little animosity towards professors because the are more often than not very liberal

This makes me wonder. Why is that?
Do liberals have more tendency to get higher education? or is it after people get higher education and become professors they become liberal because they went trough the system?

Or I wonder if it is a tendency for the more liberal to see teaching as the best use of their abilities and higher education, as opposed to going to work in their chosen field at a company.

[Amazon 7]

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Why is it that higher education is viewed as a bad thing by some in the USA?

You dont REALLLY think many americans go to college to actually get an education....

Poor silly man...


Far too many kids go to school to party.. chase the opposite sex... and spend their parents money.

[NewGuy2005 53]

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Far too many kids go to school to party.. chase the opposite sex... and spend their parents money.

My kids won't!

[downwardspiral 0]

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I used to be one of those people, and later discovered that it had been simple jealousy.

But did you ever use the quote "I'm not very educated, but I have COMMON SENSE - or I am STREET SMART" another quote from the insecure

those are my favorites - a lot like assuming someone athletic or attractive can't also be smart

Have you ever met someone who was street smart. I have? He makes $100,000 per year (legally) working 2 days per week and he's a highschool drop out who grew up in the barrio. Please generalize more.

www.FourWheelerHB.com

[BikerBabe 0]

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In another school in the same district they had problems offering advanced placement classes because the parents claimed it was "unfair to their normal children"

I think THIS here is one of the keys to the issue. Darius is right, there IS a bias against intelligence and education in this country. And what i quoted is one of the main reasons, i think.

Somewhere, somewhen, we became obsessed with being "fair", to the point of distorting the actual definition of what is fair. It is considered "unfair" now to separate the gifted kids from the "normal" kids. Unfair to celebrate their achievements. Unfair to lift them up as examples to strive for.

So in our desperate attempt to be "fair" we eliminate gifted programs, and AP classes, and encouragement for college degrees, etc. Because not making it into these classes would hurt the precious self-esteem of the kids who just aren't as intelligent.

There, i said it. for fuck's sake, YES, there are kids who are smarter than other kids. I'm sorry if your kid can't pass the test to get into AP English. It's not for everyone.

The reason kids of other cultures do well in our system is because those other cultures/countries send their best and brightest here to study. They also understand that there are people who are meant to be nuclear physicists, and people who are not. They continuously test and evaluate and place the kids where they need to be based on those evaluations.

They do NOT try to force every kid into the same educational mold. Every kid starts out the same. they have the chances to prove themselves educationally. But they aren't forced to attempt to do things they can't.

Our worst mistake and disservice to kids now is not nurturing intelligence. Eliminating gifted programs and ap classes and such is one of the biggest mistakes schools can make, IMHO. But it will keep happening if we continue to be more obsessed with self-esteem than with learning.

Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

[nerdgirl 0]

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Have you ever met someone who was street smart. I have? He makes $100,000 per year (legally) working 2 days per week and he's a highschool drop out who grew up in the barrio. Please generalize more.

While there are exceptional exceptions (e.g., your colleague, rock stars, ect), the US Dept of Commerce found that “over an adult's working life, high school graduates can expect, on average, to earn $1.2 million; those with a bachelor's degree, $2.1 million; and people with a master's degree, $2.5 million. Persons with doctoral degrees earn an average of $3.4 million during their working life, while those with professional degrees do best at $4.4 million.”

Those are the averages for the US; ones' choices, random luck, good strategic planning, charisma, height, and a whole wealth of other factors can affect individual outcomes.

VR/Marg

Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters.
Tibetan Buddhist saying

[downwardspiral 0]

I wasn't disputing the value of higher education nor am I against it. However, his generalization that one who isn't highly educated yet see's himself/herself as having common sense or street smarts is simply insecure. Intelligence and education are two different things.

www.FourWheelerHB.com

[grimmie 186]

Grampa worked in a steel mill in PA.
He told me once "Boy, don't ever invest in anything that eats and shits, and get a city job".

Grampa was a genius!

[downwardspiral 0]

lol my grampa told me to become a mortician because there will always be dead people.

www.FourWheelerHB.com

[nerdgirl 0]

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I wasn't disputing the value of higher education nor am I against it. However, his generalization that one who isn't highly educated yet see's himself/herself as having common sense or street smarts is simply insecure. Intelligence and education are two different things.

Understand ... and very much appreciate those exceptional exceptions. Wanted to put some hard numbers ($$$) into the conversation. Not intended as contrarian. Apologize if it came across as such.

VR/Marg

Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters.
Tibetan Buddhist saying