Americans and Higher Education
The average American has come to feel that to get a good job, one must first seek a degree of some sort. Most Americans find that, with a college educations, many more job opportunities arise as well. The evidence from very recent polls makes this an undeniable fact. But what could possibly cause this trend among Americans? What are the implications of such a collective thought? Only time will tell, but speculations can be made.
Around late May of 2011, a noteworthy poll website known to be quite credible and accurate in its findings called Gallup questioned a vast amount of Americans about their thoughts and opinions of higher education. When asked if having a degree is essential for getting a good job in this country, 69% voted strongly agree, 19% voted neither agree nor disagree, and only 11% said strongly disagree. The questionnaire went on to ask "which of the following is the main reason why students get education beyond high school?" The results were staggering. 54% answered "to earn more money". Following behind that, 33% answered "to get a good job". Only 5% answered "to become a well-rounded person", 3% "to learn more about the world", 1% "to learn to think critically", 3% "all of the above", and 1% voted "none of the above". Even with most Americans being aware of the poor state of the economy and the difficulty in the job market, 57% agreed that having a college degree would better a persons chances of finding a worthwhile one.
Americans leanings towards higher education are not unfounded, either. Another poll by Gallup supports this completely. Another extensive poll was done from January 2nd to September 30st of 2011, with impressive results. Among college graduates, 73% are employed full time for an employer, 7% were fully self employed, and 9% were employed part time without wanting to be employed full time. Postgraduates also had a percentage of 73% employed by a full time employer. Technical/Vocational school graduates were reported as 67% employed full time by an employer. While people with a high school diploma or less were at 58% fully employed by an employer. To further drive this point home, only 9% of postgraduates and 12% of college graduates reported being under employed, and 4% of postgraduates and 6% of college graduates were completely unemployed. Among technical/vocational school graduates, 18% were underemployed and 9% were unemployed. Even further down the list, people with a highschool diploma or less were at 25% underemployed and 13% unemployed. These are the kind of results that just can't be argued with.
Clearly, Americans feel the importance of furthering education just by seeing it. These are the kind of results that shine through, that everyone is aware of. The job market is a fight for survival, and whatever sells will make itself clear. If college graduates get better jobs easier, the American people pick up on that.
Getting a good job in life is something stressed to young Americans by relatives, teachers, and the like constantly. Ask any teenager how they feel about dropping out or not recieving a college education, especially in high schools that really focus on pumping up students for college, and you will hear something along the lines of "I don't want to be flipping burgers for the rest of my life." Americans are raised to want a worthwhile, quality career, and they are also raised to believe a college education can give that to them.
The effects of this mindset of the American public should already be quite clear. More students attend college out of high school, more Americans go back to college to further their education. College starts to become the next essential step in growing up instead of something completely optional.
So what sort of implications does this have for the American public? Well, as Gallup says on their Most Americans See College as Essential to Getting a Good Job article, "Some college graduates and post-graduates remain out of work, which may partly reflect today's challenging economy and jobs climate. However, it also suggests that leaders can do more to ensure that college graduates have the quality of education and skills that employers are looking for."
"Recent research by Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce proposes that the U.S. needs more college graduates with a quality education and skills suited for today's job market. Gallup/Lumina data suggest that the majority of Americans would agree with this assessment."
This mindset among Americans is an interesting one indeed. Not only because the polls were flooded with so many people agreeing on the importance of an education, but also because this opinion of the general public is nearly spot on with the evidence. Americans are right, those with higher education seem to have more chances for full employment.
Bibliography
Marlar, Jenny. "Seven in 10 College Grads Are Employed Full Time for Employer." Gallup.Com - Daily News, Polls, Public Opinion on Government, Politics, Economics, Management. 10 Oct. 2011. Web. 05 Dec. 2011. <http://www.gallup.com/poll/149981/Seven-College-Grads-Employed-Full-Time-Employer.aspx>.
P.W. I feel like I've really a lot of substance to this paper. It's very factual, and I like that about it so far. I would like to discuss the effects more in the second draft because I feel that section of my paper is weak.
Is the writing clear? Is it easy to understand?
Name: Brad DeMoura
ReplyDeletePeer Reviewed: Ashley Frye
Title: Analyzing a Trend
1.) In your own words, fully and with precision, describe what the assignment is asking the writer (your partner) to do? Please use your own words rather than merely quote from the assignment.
The assignment is asking Ashley to write a research paper on a trend. The trend needs to be typed three to five pages. The trend must also show a pattern in behavior that has changed over time whether in a social group or culture. It is also asking Ashley to use MLA style and in-text citations. It is also asking that Ashley provide at least two scholarly articles to draw support to her written assignment.
2.) To what extent has your partner met the expectations of the assignment? Please pick a passage as illustration and describe what works well there. Again, try to use your own words.
I feel Ashley has met most expectations of the assignment. In Ashley second paragraph first sentence gave a time frame of recent poll this is very important do to the fact the economy isn’t the way it was ten years ago. Do to the fact of the poor economy people are now going back to school to get a better or high paying job.
Ashley third paragraph also works it shows a percentage of people with a college degree are more likely to have a job then a person without one. This gives a good integration of showing that more kids, teenagers, and adults are aware of having a college education is now more essential to getting a good job which is also supported by page three.
I also believed Ashley has did her research through a scholarly article and has provided MLA style which is shown on the bottom of page four and the end the top of page five.
3.) What area needs more work? Why? Please pick a passage as illustration and describe what isn’t working.
I find it difficult to find a trend in this paper you give a time period without comparing it to a previous time this would have made it easier to find an increase or decrease of the trend you’re trying to get across.
4.) Please indicate TWO questions about the draft and at least ONE suggestion for ways to improve it.
I suggest you add more comparisons to different time frames this will support your paper by showing an increase or decrease over a period of time.
What made decide on this trend?
Did you feel that this was difficult to do?