Thursday, October 20, 2016

Education and the Pursuit of Happiness



‘Education is expensive but leads to better job prospects.’

A generally held axiom in today’s economy, the idea that you need at least an undergraduate degree to get a ‘good job’ has reached a level of mania that is hard to swallow. 

Why? Because education is not just about getting a job.

It’s true the U.S. needs more education and skills training for a better workforce. Alleviating student debt and considering how to make higher education affordable is a serious consideration for this 2016 election. Economic and educational competition is at a global level. 

But both domestically and in the new global power structure American voters have faced a rising climate of conflict over race and religion.

The cultural anthropology class a student takes – even if only to fulfill a general education requirement – can help promote insight and tolerance of those who are ‘other.’

Education enriches life and can help provide understanding – it should not necessarily be just for career advancement. 

So here’s the deal: 

In a capitalist economy, even if we raise the minimum wage and try to create “good jobs,” some people will still be making minimum wage and others will make more. 

And some people are happier working with their hands or in a coffee shop. Should they be looked down on for not ‘fulfilling their potential?’ 

If a person who makes minimum wage has the desire to expand their own knowledge by taking a class on Islam or African literature, what happens when they cannot afford it?

Taking a class out of pure interest has been primarily the domain of those who have the time and money to do so. 


However, the needs of society have grown – not just economically, but socially as well. There is a difference between deciding learning something is of no interest and never being able to reach for it in the first place.

A missed educational opportunity is also a missed moment of human understanding, gained knowledge, and happiness in the pursuit of intellectual exploration. As the cost of higher education becomes a barrier, it not only excludes people from better careers, it excludes them from thinking big.

2 comments:

  1. I can't tell what your blog post is about. After reading it twice, I can't tell whether you're for or against everyone going to college. You talk about the election, but ignore the debate on this question.

    "If a person who makes minimum wage has the desire to expand their own knowledge by taking a class on Islam or African literature, what happens when they cannot afford it?"
    They find another way to actualize their desire. If they're motivated enough to better themselves, they're likely capable of taking advantage of the wide variety of *free* online resources.

    "As the cost of higher education becomes a barrier, it not only excludes people from better careers, it excludes them from thinking big."
    It is possible to "think big" without a college education. It is also possible to avoid the cultural indoctrination taking place on most college campuses, which may be why it is not considered an acceptable alternative.

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  2. Education is part of life and the reason why we have schools. But at the same time I believe we basically go to school for many years just to get a degree to have a high paying job and work for the rest of our lives. Yea we can have a social life but in the end our lives are created to go to school, work, and leave the world with success of our self.

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