In the July/August 2007 issue of Foreign Affairs an article titled A New Deal for Globalization by Kenneth F. Scheve and Matthew J. Slaughter details that incomes even for college graduates have declined. The benefits of globalization are very real and evenly distributed as far as costs of goods and services go. But the rise in earnings is limited to those with doctorates and professional graduate degrees or about 4 percent of the workforce. The 30 percent made up of college graduates and nonprofessional master's degree holders actually saw their compensation decline.
So while I'm pleased to hear marginally good news, I remain quite cautious. The meager national investments in public education and retraining of dislocated workers are inadequate to offset the pain of working folks. Hence we see a trend toward anti-immigration and protectionism. And the right wing assault on even voluntary measures by public school districts to resist concentrations of wealth and poverty are indefensible. Similarly unjustifiable are attacks on college and university programs to enhance entry of persons from minority ethnic and lower socioeconomic classes.
These days, a college diploma is the equivalent of a high-school diploma. Back in the day, high school was all one needed to get a decent entry level position. In many cases, you didn't even need that. Today, people with bachelor's degrees can barely get a job waiting tables, it seems.
I ma glad to have read this, but too bad it has nothing to do with Cosby, neocons of color, right-wingers, red necks, the right-wing agenda, or democrats. Maybe this shift is owed to good 'ol common sense and a good hard look at the economic situation created by the ruling class.
Workers can no longer find the jobs they need, and since you're going to go into debt anyway, you might as well go into debt getting a "higher" education. Who knows? Maybe you too can get a really cool job in a health insurance company, yet have no health coverage yourself.
It's better than nothing I guess......
Blittle...explain how Asian immigrants and other communities of color appear to be excelling and by large due to the fact that they value education.....to them education is a definite line to success. There appears to be less problems with THEM looking to achieving financial success through education.....no one seems to disputing what an education can do for you except lower tier people of color...what gives?
Are you sure about that? Where are your numbers coming from regarding Asians and where is the source. I wished my underachieving, clock watching, dust-collecting, no-nothing coworker went to the same classes, but I guess he doesn't fit the stereotype.
Listen, you do any google search or check any recent documentaries on immigrants, whether they are African, pacific Asians, Asian/Indians....they are degrees in higher education in record numbers....again, you may not want to hear this but we are failing...sure many of us are doing well and we have a thriving middle class but this talk on the board about the under-value of education just doesn't wash when others seem to be acheiving.......I'm not discounting my 2 degrees...and I'm sure (Dr.) submariner is not going to devalue HIS....c'mon folks...stop the excuses....time to get in the race...aren't we supposed to be fast?....lol...ENOUGH!!
Actually African immigrant. are the most educated of any group in this country. That can be said of England as well. One thing that I notice through going to school with Africans and Asians(as a group) is that they major in subjects which are going pay money.
For exammple,in Baltimore African students (Nigerians especially) both men and women work very hard(3.8-4.0 Gpa) to get into nursing programs. A nursing degree in Baltimore pays of fbig time. Starting salary is about early to mid 50k. You can get a nursing degree at a commmunity college without going into deep debt plus there are large number of grants and scholarships for nursing students.
Althought I see a sizeable number of African-Americans in the A&p and Micro very few are able to make it into the program and actually finish.
I think comes down to poor and working class people need to tell their children that the liberal arts are good but you need something that is going to pay(medical, fianace etc.) so that they won't find themselves strugling as adults.
now see, this is a story i can get into. I wonder if it'll make Fox News or MSNBC today. Probably not! But still, a story about black people striving for greatness and not mediocrity. Loves it!
Nice post, guys. Thanks. We need to read stories like this from time to time, so we don't lose sight of the fact that there are rays of sun shining through the gray clouds.
Some people are beginning to get it, which is good, but I definitely agree with the earlier writers who said that you can't just settle. Bachelor degrees these days are so commonplace that without one, you may not even get into the door. One step at a time is a good approach, though.
Our high school dropout rate is still way too high. Orienting kids toward a minimum of high school graduation should be a first step. For those who aren't interested in/inclined toward continuing on to college, we should emphasize acquiring a trade, which is something that needs to be revived in our education system.
Vocational/technical schools used to be more prevalent in our society. Now they're beginning to go the way of the dinosaur, which is a big mistake. Carpenters, plumbers, technicians, mechanics, etc. actually make pretty good money.
At the end of the day, just having a job is really key, and that's something we need to get across to our young people. Work brings a sense of accomplishment, dignity, pride and self worth. Those are priceless commodities for the human psyche! We all know the saying "idle hands are the devil's workshop."
Isn't the south where a majority of HBCUs exist? These numbers don't reflect much without the others numbers to go alongside. Yes, we want hope...but a false sense of security should not be the source of that hope.
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