The Last of Education

Throughout this blog post, Education in America has been the topic being discussed. From its flaws, to teachers, to the money, to stereotypes, so much has been talked about. To wrap up this blog, I would like to talk about the things that education does for us – the good. Without an education, almost all of us, if not everyone, would not be where we are today. Sometimes we forget how lucky we are to have an education system in the United States that lets us learn so much. In other countries, they do not have this privilege. “Of the worlds 787 million children of primary school age 8% do not go to school. That is 58.4 million children.” (Our World in Data)

            As the quote above says, so many children do not have the privilege to an education. In the United States, most children attend a well-funded school that provides for a well setup future and the option to go to college or pursue some type of higher education. In college, it is a privilege to have so many majors and classes to study. In schools, we are constantly socializing. Pearson Accelerated states, “Mental health workers and researchers have found that we can support our mental health by connecting with others, developing a sense of meaning or purpose, building coping skills and having a goal or hobby. One way to engage in all of these activities is through learning and education. Research shows that education can improve mental health by broadening your intellectual, social and emotional horizons. Attending school can also expand your knowledge, help you meet new people, further your goals, improve your career and even help you build better coping mechanisms.”

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            For most of us, I can say that education has shaped our entire lives. At this level, education has provided us with friends, different perspectives, leadership positions, knowledge, opportunity, and so much more. If I did not have an education, even at a young age, I could not imagine what my life would have consisted of. Especially when you are younger, education and school is the primary way to make friends. Although education in the United States has its flaws, these benefits are only some of the many that we receive. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Intelligence plus character, that is the goal of a true education.” (The Washington Post) It is so important to remember how important our education is to us. Throughout this blog, I hope that you learned more about Education in the United States flaws, benefits, and all that is in between.

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Sources:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2014/01/20/mlk-intelligence-plus-character-that-is-the-goal-of-true-education/

https://ourworldindata.org/children-not-in-school

https://www.pearsonaccelerated.com/blog/education-boosts-mental-health/

If not college, then what?

In recent years, going to college is something that the majority of high school graduates do. Whether you choose to continue your education after college is a different matter, but it still affects the way that society views the education system. As of October 2021, 61.8 percent of 2021 high school graduates ages 16 to 24 were enrolled in colleges or universities, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, often, we do not think about the 38 percent of high school graduates who do not go to college or look down upon them. In this blog, I want to address the question, why? 

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While college is something that is a great choice after graduating high school, there are many times as a society that we fail to consider the other options or look at them as inferior. In my opinion, this is something that we must change. It truly is simple; college is not meant for everyone. Why are we acting like everyone who graduates must go to college? Why is it that when someone answers “I’m going to trade school” or “I’m working” that in the back of many people’s heads they will assume that this person is lazy or will not do anything with their life. 

Not only are those who don’t go to college sometimes looked at as inferior, but they are not appreciated enough. Most people who are plumbers, landscapers, construction workers, truck drivers, and so many more do not go to college, but we need them all just as much as we need a college-educated society. By the way, half of these occupations will make just as much money in the end as someone who earned their bachelor’s degree. Visual Capitalist states, “Households with at least one person with a bachelor’s degree earn $81,629 per year in salary” According to zip recruiter, plumbers can make $97,000 per year in salary. Not only will they make as much money, but they will have zero debt from their education. One thing is for sure; college is expensive. Education data states, “The average cost of attendance for a student living on campus at a public 4-year in-state institution is $25,707 per year or $102,828 over 4 years.” At this cost, some people also choose to not attend college simply because they cannot afford it.  

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To conclude, it is essential for us to have these individuals who do not go to college as much as we need the ones who do. Just because someone doesn’t go to college doesn’t mean they don’t work hard. For example, many individuals who do not go to college work the same amount of hours as someone who sits in an office all day. At the end of the day, college is not the only option, and we must open our eyes more to the other alternatives.  

 

Sources:  

https://www.bls.gov/news.release/hsgec.nr0.htm 

Average Cost of College [2023]: Yearly Tuition + Expenseseducationdata.orghttps://educationdata.org › average-cost-of-college 

How Americans Make and Spend Their Money, by …Visual Capitalisthttps://www.visualcapitalist.com › how-americans-mak… 

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