Perspective Of College Education In America
Most young people find themselves oppressed with distressing loans after college. Discussions about colleges' actual contribution to the field of education has become increasingly common. By studying institutions and interviewing higher education leaders, policy makers, as well as students from different states, Andrew Hacker and Claudia Dreifus conclude that colleges are “Jack of all trades and master of none.”
In the past twenty to twenty-five years, both public and private tuitions have been doubled as mentioned, and people believe that they are not receiving the quality that they expected. Americans used to think that it was meritorious to send their children to college and conclude that they would make a ton of money to pay back student loans and earn livings on their own. However, that's not the only perspective to consider regarding this problem. Even though higher education in the US is a billion dollar industry, it still needs reform. Some of the colleges' problems are paying professors with sky high salaries while they are doing their own research instead of lecturing.
Donations are spread inefficiently and they are not using technology to improve the course’s quality. The authors propose for universities to set things right. Basically, schools should require better teaching, more fascinating and cultivating lessons for students as opposed to focusing their attention on their capability to pay debts. On top of that, Hacker and Dreifus draw out a big question mark: “Are colleges giving good value for our investment?”. Fortunately, we still have a few good in-demand colleges.
Berea College and The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art charge students no bill. In turn, they are asked to work on campus for a certain amount of time. Arizona State University as well as University of Maryland-Baltimore County are not only using substantial funding on their experimental institutions, but also having positive mindsets and working with different types of students. Although none of them have ever said so directly in the end, Hacker and Dreifus suspect that colleges are not a good investment after all.
Notwithstanding, Barry Glassner and Morton Schapiro, the writers and college presidents address through their article that “America’s highest education isn't broken". They share that college's responsibility isn't losing sleep on students but being concerned. Indeed, colleges are doing their best balancing between providing learners with quality courses, ensuring safety among them, and still being able to pay professors as well managing.
