To Go or Not to Go
In the article “Are Too Many People Going to College,” Charles Murray, a worker at a conservative think tank in Washington D.C., does not agree that too many people are going to college. He proves his thoughts though other people’s research as well as his own. In the article, Murray explains the importance of core knowledge, the importance of bachelor’s degree, and the change college education through time.
Murray uses E.D. Hirsch Jr.’s argument to concur with his own about the need for core knowledge and how it should not stop with eighth grade. While in one’s home country it is unlikely not know many of the well known people and historical events. Murray says that that core knowledge should not just stop at one country (223). The way to be literate is to further one’s knowledge past one country's norms. Murray says that kindergarten through eighth grade is a perfect time to teach this core knowledge (225). It is known that smaller children memorize and remember information better than adults do. Murray states, “So let’s teach it to them, but let’s not wait for college to do it” (225). He thinks partly because of better memorization, more core knowledge needs to be taught than what there is currently during elementary school. Murray discusses some of the courses taken in college are counterproductive, so he thinks why not teach them in high school when most are already learning a lower level of the subject (224). With all of this is mind, core knowledge should expand and continue to be studied before college.
Murray explains the importance of a bachelor’s degree and how it has changed. Murray says, “When high school graduates think obtaining a B.A. will help them get a higher-paying job, they are only narrowly correct” (233). He does believe that it will help then get a higher paying job, but for some, he doesn’t believe it is worth the money of the degree. For some jobs, Murray thinks that employers don’t value the information the student learned to get there but instead value the degree the student received. As time goes on, more and more people are going to college. He says that more employers look for the B.A. degree since more people are now getting that degree (234). Murray believes for certain professions, the amount of money being made in the job is not worth the extra money a person may get with the degree. For some, college might not even be needed to pursue a job. Nowadays, getting a bachelor’s degree could be the ticket for a job, and for others, college isn’t even needed.
College has changed overtime in many different ways. A big change is the cost of college. Murray says that much of the curriculum has changed for courses, and the range of courses offered have been broadened (238). He includes that the campus lifestyle has also changed, some for better and some for worse. College helps kids everywhere become exposed to many different kinds of people and find new interests. Murray explains, “The problem begins with the message sent to young people that they should aspire to college no matter what” (239). This becomes a problem because people may be demanding too much intellectually from student. As times change, most parents expects kids to go to college and get a bachelor’s degree. Murray believes that college is changing for the better as well as the worse.
In this article “Are Too Many People Going to College,” Charles Murray does not agree that too many people are going to college. Although he believes that in some cases the curriculum in high school should be taught more in depth, for some college may not be the right choice. In the article, Murray explains the importance of core knowledge, the importance of bachelor’s degree, and the overall change college education through time.
Works Cited
Murray, Charles. "Are Too Many People Going to College?" They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 222-242. Print
In the article “Are Too Many People Going to College,” Charles Murray, a worker at a conservative think tank in Washington D.C., does not agree that too many people are going to college. He proves his thoughts though other people’s research as well as his own. In the article, Murray explains the importance of core knowledge, the importance of bachelor’s degree, and the change college education through time.
Murray uses E.D. Hirsch Jr.’s argument to concur with his own about the need for core knowledge and how it should not stop with eighth grade. While in one’s home country it is unlikely not know many of the well known people and historical events. Murray says that that core knowledge should not just stop at one country (223). The way to be literate is to further one’s knowledge past one country's norms. Murray says that kindergarten through eighth grade is a perfect time to teach this core knowledge (225). It is known that smaller children memorize and remember information better than adults do. Murray states, “So let’s teach it to them, but let’s not wait for college to do it” (225). He thinks partly because of better memorization, more core knowledge needs to be taught than what there is currently during elementary school. Murray discusses some of the courses taken in college are counterproductive, so he thinks why not teach them in high school when most are already learning a lower level of the subject (224). With all of this is mind, core knowledge should expand and continue to be studied before college.
Murray explains the importance of a bachelor’s degree and how it has changed. Murray says, “When high school graduates think obtaining a B.A. will help them get a higher-paying job, they are only narrowly correct” (233). He does believe that it will help then get a higher paying job, but for some, he doesn’t believe it is worth the money of the degree. For some jobs, Murray thinks that employers don’t value the information the student learned to get there but instead value the degree the student received. As time goes on, more and more people are going to college. He says that more employers look for the B.A. degree since more people are now getting that degree (234). Murray believes for certain professions, the amount of money being made in the job is not worth the extra money a person may get with the degree. For some, college might not even be needed to pursue a job. Nowadays, getting a bachelor’s degree could be the ticket for a job, and for others, college isn’t even needed.
College has changed overtime in many different ways. A big change is the cost of college. Murray says that much of the curriculum has changed for courses, and the range of courses offered have been broadened (238). He includes that the campus lifestyle has also changed, some for better and some for worse. College helps kids everywhere become exposed to many different kinds of people and find new interests. Murray explains, “The problem begins with the message sent to young people that they should aspire to college no matter what” (239). This becomes a problem because people may be demanding too much intellectually from student. As times change, most parents expects kids to go to college and get a bachelor’s degree. Murray believes that college is changing for the better as well as the worse.
In this article “Are Too Many People Going to College,” Charles Murray does not agree that too many people are going to college. Although he believes that in some cases the curriculum in high school should be taught more in depth, for some college may not be the right choice. In the article, Murray explains the importance of core knowledge, the importance of bachelor’s degree, and the overall change college education through time.
Works Cited
Murray, Charles. "Are Too Many People Going to College?" They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 222-242. Print