Mike Rose: Blue-Collar Brilliance On-the-job education greatly surpasses the benefits of a college education for one main reason: practicality. According to Mike Rose in Blue-Collar Brilliance, working-class citizens may meddle through years of college education, force their minds—in a failed effort—to absorb classroom material, and dutifully complete assignments; however, no education can compare to the real-life test of competence associated with an occupation. How can a blue-collar job compete with or overpower a professional university? Rose explains, “though work-related actions become routine with experience, they were learned at some point through observation, trial and error, and, often, physical or verbal assistance from a co-worker …show more content…
He would claim, as with Rosie, that much more potential could shine through them using a liberal arts education. However, the question must still be considered, is it really necessary? Although Ungar is correct to suggest that everyone could benefit from a liberal arts education, I agree with Rose that not everyone needs to. To support this, Murray offers, “the problem begins with the message sent to young people that they should aspire to college no matter what” (pp 239). A job that provides a living while creating enjoyment seems to be the end goal of any career, so what is the difference if the path to that goal does not require years of education? This is the central claim of Rose and Murray—one that I support. Of course, if satisfaction is not present, then Ungar would be fully justified in his effort to encourage seeking higher potential through a liberal arts education. As Addison advocates, community college could allow blue-collar workers to simply start at a level with which they feel comfortable. Community college would also provide a meaningful education—within a reasonable price—through the changes presented by Hacker and …show more content…
It is people like Rosie that would seem to upset Carey. In his mind, a successful, hard-working person should spend their small earnings on a quick for-profit degree to be eligible for an occupation with better pay; however, I see this as a cover story to justify the corrupt purpose for the existence of for-profit colleges. Owners of for-profit institutions are on the lookout for prey such as Rosie. To my disgust, along with Hacker and Dreifus, their marketing technique pounces on blue-collar workers, convincing them to spend their earnings on an excessive tuition. How else would a profit be made? After contributing to the greedy for-profit owners’ fund, the degree obtained could never compensate for the likely debt remaining. In the view of Hacker and Dreifus, a blue-collar worker enrolling in a for-profit institution would result in forfeiting a stable occupation—in which they were successful—and a steady income to obtain a degree that would only benefit the institution owners. How can the following debt possibly be worth the cost of a degree? On that note, I agree with Hacker and Dreifus that a blue-collar worker such as Rosie has no reason to sacrifice a steady income, along with a job that creates satisfaction and happiness, to obtain any sort of degree, let alone the mere piece of paper Carey
In “Two Years Are Better than Four”, Liz Addison argues against Rick Perlstein’s article “What’s the Matter With College?”. While Perlstein questions the value of college as it currently is, Addison argues that the “community college system is America’s hidden public service gem”(Addison 257). By way of that, she defends the value of college. Unsurprisingly, as with most situations, the truth is somewhere in between ends of a spectrum created by these two articles. While I agree with Addison’s idea of community college being an accessible starting point for everyone, she fails to appropriately represent the unique culture often found in these types of colleges. Also, I think that she also fails to look at the overall purpose of attending school and then neglects to acknowledge the benefits of a four year university.
Sanford Ungar has the right idea that more people should major in the liberal arts, and I definitely like how he put his essays into the “seven misconceptions.” It really made me think, and ask myself some questions about my major. He knew what he was doing whenever writing this essay, but what happens whenever everyone starts majoring in the “liberal arts?” It would not leave anyone else for anything else. That brings me into Charles Murray, and to an extent his opinions are my own, but some I could not fathom being okay with. I can support his idea about kindergarten through eight should learn the core knowledge, and high school should be left with most humanities and social science courses. It would lessen how long people need to attend college for their career. What I do not support is his idea of the lower percentile, there could be many intelligent people in that category that could change the world, but they did not show how much they could be valuable in their high school days. Some people could be genius in high school, but not so much in college, or vice versa. What would happen if the person that has what it takes to cure cancer, but no one listens to him because he was not “intelligent” enough to go to college? It would set the world back a few
In the article “ Blue-Collar Brilliance” the author Mike Rose, was obviously arguing that just because some jobs requires less schooling than others, it doesn’t mean that their jobs use less brain, intelligent and less thought process in their profession. To argue his theory Rose told us about his mother, about how when he was younger, he observe his mother as a waitress at a coffee shop and family restaurant. Rose told us how his mother loves her being a waitress and how her job required her to use her memory and knowledge. As rose stated “my mother kind of work demand of both body and brain” (245) His mother also learned how long each dish is suppose to take before its ready to be serve, and his mother also learned human skills. For example, if there was a problem at work she would knew how to solve them, while she’s still doing her job as an employer. To furthermore his explain his theory; Rose tells reader about
Murray believes that students should receive a liberal education, yet they should not have to wait until college to do so (Murray 225). Murray states that a person should not be forced to obtain a college-level liberal education, simply because they are capable of doing so (Murray 228). On higher education, Murray says, “A large proportion of people who are theoretically able to absorb a liberal education have no interest in doing so.” (Murray 228). Regardless of the fact that a person fits the criteria enabling them to pursue a college degree, does not necessarily mean that they should, if they are not interested. It is more logical to teach students extensively before the time of college, instead of leaving out information and forcing them to attend a school (Murray 225). However, Addison disagrees with this ideology, and believes that a college education is essential to growing up.
In the article, “Blue-Collar Brilliance” by Mike Rose, he begins with an anecdote of his mother working her blue-collar job at a diner as a waitress. Rose vividly describes her common day that is packed with a constant array of tedious tasks she has to accomplish to make her living. The authors goal appears to be making the reader appreciate the hard work of blue-collar workers because society places a stereotype on them as being less intelligent than someone with more schooling or even a white-collar job: “Our cultural iconography promotes the muscled arm, sleeve rolled tight against biceps, but no brightness behind the eye, no inmate that links hand and brain” (282). I agree with Rose’s conclusion that if we continue to place a stigma on
The essay starts off with Murray saying of course more people be encouraged to go to college then countering with a yes and no to the question. He agrees that yes getting a education is important but majority of people are going for what they should have learned years before reaching the college level. The way people see college as a way to be success doesn't sit well with him as he gives many reasons to why this is false. The statement "college is seen as a open sesame to a good job and desirable way for adolescents to transition to adulthood." proves this point. He argues that yes getting a education is important but it's not always the best way. The hypothetical example involving a student choosing to go college for business or becoming a electrician. Then giving a example of why he would be probably be better off becoming the electrician rather than going to college to do something he may not be as successful as he could've been if he worked as a electrician helps prove his point. Murray continues to argue that the view about college is flawed that many are better off looking for better options rather than following the crowd and going to college.
Everyone has an opinion concerning what type of education is most useful. We all know that a college education is important in the competitive world we live in today. For instance, if you want a career in engineering, medicine, chemistry or law, a bachelor's degree or higher is mandatory. We often see people who have made it really big, and yet have little or no formal education. My opinion is, in order to get and keep a good paying job, you need both “street smarts” and “book smarts.” The combination of practical knowledge and explicit knowledge is the key to a successful career. Both types of knowledge have distinct advantages.
In I just want to be average by Mike Rose, it is about how Mike Rose recalls his educational experience in a vocational school. A vocational school is a school full of bottom level classes. To be placed in a vocational school, students have to have a low score in their placement test. Rose accidently got placed in the vocational school, because his test got mixed up with another student named Rose. After realizing Rose accidently got placed in, he continued to still stay in the vocational school. Throughout the story Rose talks about each student he meets. He makes them seem like they are not just uneducated kids with discipline issues. Rose identifies a specific trait that stands them out from one another, despite them being lower leveled students; they are something more than that to him. Also, he describes how the teachers behave. The teachers are insensible and use violence to punish and get through to the students. Most of the teachers he describes show lack of control in the class, not only that, but they are not prepared for lesson plans; all but one teacher, Jack Macfarland.
There are many well paying jobs that do not require a college education in this day and age. The workforce requires skilled workers that can work with their hands and use real world experience that cannot be found in college. There are more workforce jobs that don’t require college than management jobs that do
Carey’s article explains how for-profit colleges should be fixed by offering actually training to improve students education and to pursue their degree. Also how for-profits are all business, for example he used University of Phoenix and how he interviewed Michael Clifford, an investor, to explain what their goal was in for-profits and that was to make money. I believe that Carey’s argument improves and from the credible sources I found, it shows a lot how for-profits are a no good even just to be educated, it's just a waste of time and money. My first source that was used” Former Grand Canyon University investor: No future in for-profit education” by Angela Gonzales connects to Carey’s article building more effective by showing more valid and
Most jobs require even more schooling, like a Masters degree. Which is just more debt, and one is still not guaranteed a job. In contrast, A high school student can get a low wage job to begin with then work their way up. During this lower wage job, they will inquire skills and knowledge they would not have learned anywhere else. Mike Rose, a professor at UCLA who came from a blue collar family, stated, “The shop floor provided what school did not; it was like schooling, he said, a place where you are constantly learning” (Rose, 277). Intelligence comes in all different forms. The Oxford dictionary defines intelligence as “the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills”. From this definition, it states nothing about higher education. A person who works at a factory for a living has a different form of intelligence, then, say, a person working in an office. They are both intelligent, just about different things. People should not be looked at as less intelligent because they did not receive the privilege to attend an expensive
...tion was only for the rich and powerful. Now it is available to everyone, this will have many advantages for our country, our people, and even our world. I definitely believe that it is impossible to be overeducated. The more people are educated, the better the world will be, because people will be able to discuss and exchange ideas. Another pro is that people with degrees have many more opportunities. They can take a wider variety of jobs and do what they enjoy doing, instead of being forced to take a job they dislike. Finally, although there are undoubtedly some problems with college as a business, I feel strongly that each and every individual can excel and gain from having a college education. A college education is the most valuable tool we can use; it’s a foundation that will carry anyone through a successful life. Remember Senator Kerry’s words on making a college investment your most important investment. We may only be 20 percent of the population today, but what we do and the choices we make are going to determine the future. And to me, a college education is a sound investment. An investment that with great dedication and determination will reap the very best rewards!
In Hrabowski’s article, he discusses the major points of getting a college degree can be a higher salary or a job but the preparation the individual gets for life is the best outcome from a degree. Likewise, my mother had urged me to attend a university because of the wide variety of positive outcomes that come after attaining a degree. She attended a community college when my sister and I were toddlers while spending long hours studying for exams, doing homework, and balancing other life aspects. This resulted in her finally achieving her goals and she received her Associate's degree. My mother had no support for receiving a degree because her parents have passed, which motivated her to help me as much as possible to obtain mine. However, for that to be possible in this economy and to be considered as a qualifier, she had to earn her Associate’s degree first. Like my mom’s view, Hrabowski tends to share similar views on this because he states “many economists and educators point to data showing the fastest growing job categories require at least a college degree” (Hrabowski 260). Relating to the quote, I was now able to be supported in my pathway on to getting my Bachelor’s degree because if my mom hadn’t got her degree and became a Registered Nurse, I might not have had the opportunities I do now. She put herself through college although she didn’t have a lot of money for her degree, had two children, had a job, and providing for all three of us. Her degree prepared her to be able to support her family, which is the idea that she wants me to take out of my experience. Coming to Central, I’ve realized that the professional preparation is extremely important, but the opportunities college gives you is unlike any classroom. Hrabowski has a similar idea in mind when he says “Yes college prepares people for jobs, but more critically,
The director, Andrew Rossi, uses statistical appeals to show, “68% of the students who are paying small fortunes for their education at public universities won’t graduate within four years” (Tallerico 1). Throughout this film, Rossi explores Harvard’s education system, Arizona State University’s party scene, and Cooper Union, a Manhattan college that was founded for their free education and their continuous tuition-free learning (Kingkade 1). As Rossi was exploring these dissimilar schools, he did not touch upon colleges such as; community college and trade-schools. To continue, Hunter stated, “we don’t necessary know that college is necessary for pursuing different professions, so I think that trade-school is realistic and a useful path for a
A few years ago, the DeVry technical institute released a commercial that compared two brothers in their educational pursuits. The younger brother started school at DeVry and graduated in two years. The older brother had chosen college and was still stuck in his dorm room studying history while his younger brother worked on the future. The question this commercial presented was obvious, why waste all that time in a university learning trivial facts which don’t apply to the real world when you can bypass it and still learn an important skill. That is an interesting question to consider, especially in such a hi-tech world. But is job training all one needs to know to be successful? What are the advantages of a college degree versus a technical degree? I would like to consider some advantages a college graduate might have in the areas of employment, family and community.