Purpose of Higher Education in Our Culture - Assignment Example

Purpose of Higher Education in Our Culture According to Menand’s article, “Live and Learn: Why We Have College”, it is the wish of everybody that he or she access college or university education (Menand, 2011). In a move to elaborate on this, Menand came up with three theories as to why many people wish to access college education. Apart from stating that college education plays the role of aiding in early identification of intelligent persons so as to mold them to be future leaders, Menand also claims that it also enables one acquire both skills and knowledge, which are normally important in shaping one’s life. Similarly, in his third theory, he claims that college is an institution that one ought to pass through before entering any vocation (Menand, 2011). According to Menand, the first theory is suitable for persons that possess the belief grades do matter for they separate intelligent from non-intelligent persons. Similarly, the second theory is for those who have the perception that in college, grades do not matter and the important thing is what one learns at the end of the day (Menand, 2011). In a move to determine the role played by higher education in a society, the essay will analyze the purpose of accessing higher education in relation to the US culture. In my opinion, Menand’s theories are valid, this is because many people believe in college education to the extent that they do not see other opportunities that if followed could also result to a successful life. According to Menend (2011), although college education is of great importance to students, not everyone has what it takes to excel academically. The main reason for the introduction of college education was in a move to sort between intelligent and non-intelligent students (Menand, 2011). This implies that after one completes his or her college education within a four-year duration, what matters most is the grade he or she achieved. In the US culture, most people access higher education with the belief that at the end of the day they will land a lucrative job, hence making them earn a good amount of money (Menand, 2011). Although this believe is somehow legit, what matters most is one’s final grade. This is because most companies not only in the US but also globally normally hire persons that possess high level of intelligence, evident in the manner in which one performs in college. In my opinion, this is quite unfortunate since grades alone do not determine one’s capability. This is because when it comes to matters of education, there are different categories of people in relation to intelligence. For instance, whereas there is a group that is fast and active when it comes to grasping studying, there are also students that are slow but quite intelligent. By using tests, most of these slow learners lag behind for they are not fast when it comes to grasping ideas (Menand, 2011). In the current generation, it is critical for one to not only possess knowledge but also have the ability to apply the knowledge it appropriately. This is because according to studies, knowledge plays a major role in one’s not only personal advancement but also societal (Duderstadt, 2009). It is because of the need to possess knowledge in addition to knowing how to apply it that most people seek higher education. Since, according to them colleges as well as universities are the primary suppliers of knowledge (Duderstadt, 2009). According to Menand (2011), education is not about inclusion but instead selection. In a move to elaborate this statement, Menand claims that due to the massive enrollment of students in colleges, there are high chances that bachelor’s degrees will no longer be in demand by companies unlike in previous centuries. Most firms will start selecting employees possessing higher professional degree qualifications such as Masters as well as PHDs, and in so doing lock out a large number of people who attended college with the aim of landing lucrative jobs. In my opinion, which is in agreement with Menand, this is because although there are many colleges and universities in the US, most of them are normally after issuing degrees without putting into consideration the employment opportunities of the students once they graduate. Unlike in the past when there were few colleges and universities, the current century has been marred by thousands of higher education institutions, which are enrolling students from all over the world on an annual basis (Lindsay, 2013). Once these students are done with their college education, they then face the next task, which is seeking for employment. I think apart from just issuing degrees, institutions ought to mold students into becoming creative in a move to prepare them for future roles as leaders. For this to be achieved, educators should cease issuing students facts and concepts, instead they ought to teach them not only how to research for the facts but also how to analyze and use them appropriately (Lindsay, 2013). Due to the large number of students graduating from institutions of higher education on an annual basis both in the US and globally, there are few employment vacancies set aside for persons with high intelligence. Hence, this results to a large number of unemployed graduates. Since most of these graduates spent most of their time in class, they normally have no other skills that could enable them be successful (Menand, 2011). In my opinion, apart from being hungry for college education, it is also important for one spend some time evaluating himself and in so doing, identify the type of skills that they can pursue apart from academics. In my opinion, in the current century, one can also be successful even without accessing higher education, what matters are evaluating self. Apart from Microsoft’s Bill Gates and Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, many people have had successful careers just by using their own inborn skills without accessing higher education; this is because they only spent some time before venturing in skills other than education. According to studies, many institutions normally spent most of their time measuring hours spent in seats thus giving little attention to the vital aspects, which are learning in as well as relevant skills achieved in these seats (McKiernan, 2012). McKiernan further states federal with state support for college education is in relation to the number of students admitted compared to those that leave the institution as graduates. This is evident because many public colleges and universities receive funding and other forms of rewards not basing on the number of students that have graduated, instead, the number of students enrolled in the respective institution. In a move to gauge students’ success, instead of focusing on the actual learning process together with diligence, most colleges and universities normally focus on a student’s characteristics (McKiernan, 2012). In his article, “Live and Learn: Why We Have College”, Menand (2011) contends many deem in higher education and in so doing they do not see other paths that if followed could also result to one having a successful career. According to Menand, college education came to existence in a move to separate people into categories and determine activities they can handle. The four-year period in college is normally a test whereby those that excel are normally fit for employment. This is because they possess more intelligence hence making them stand out from the rest. Apart from it being a source of employment, college education also enables one to acquire knowledge that is important to both personal as well as societal advancement. In my opinion, higher education should not focus on just the issuance of degrees, instead, it ought to aim at offering skills and knowledge that if properly used will result graduates holding more leadership roles in the future. References Duderstadt, J. J. (2009). Aligning American Higher Education with a Twenty-first-century Public Agenda. Examining the National Purposes of American Higher Education: A Leadership Approach to Policy Reform. Higher Education In Europe, 34(3/4), 347-366. doi:10.1080/03797720903355612 Lindsay, T. (2013). The Likelihood of Higher-Education Reform. Society, 50(3), 236-244. doi:10.1007/s12115-013-9649-x McKiernan, H. H. (2012). Higher Education and the American Workforce. Association of Governing Boards, 20 (3). Menand, L. (2011). “Live and Learn: Why we have college.” The New Yorker. Retrieved on 14 July 2014 from http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2011/06/06/110606crat_atlarge_menand?c urrentPage=all Annotated Bibliography Duderstadt, J. J. (2009). Aligning American Higher Education with a Twenty-first-century Public Agenda. Examining the National Purposes of American Higher Education: A Leadership Approach to Policy Reform. Higher Education In Europe, 34(3/4), 347-366. doi:10.1080/03797720903355612 Duderstadt analyses some of the challenges facing the current education system, especially institutions of higher learning such as colleges and universities. According to Duderstadt, nations ought to embrace education by not only teaching students facts but also ensuring that they enrich them with necessary entrepreneurial and innovative skills that will enable one become responsible persons in future. The article plays a major role in the study since it relays the importance of education in a nation’s economy. Lindsay, T. (2013). The Likelihood of Higher-Education Reform. Society, 50(3), 236-244. doi:10.1007/s12115-013-9649-x Lindsay talks of tests such as the CLA in addition to the role they play towards molding students to professional careers. In a move to elaborate the impact of education, she analyses information from Allan Blooms book, “The Closing of the American Mind” as well as Richard Arum and Josipa Roksas “Academically Adrift”. The article is essential since it talks about reforms that come alongside accessing college as well as university education. McKiernan, H. H. (2012). Higher Education and the American Workforce. Association of Governing Boards, 20 (3). McKiernan talks of some of the issues that affect college education in addition to measures that are worth adhering. According to McKiernan, institutions of higher learning spend most of their time measuring hours spent in seats hence giving little attention to the vital aspects, which are learning in as well as relevant skills achieved. Apart from identifying factors that affect leaning institutions, the article provides some of the steps that if adhered to, could result to reformed academic institutions. Menand, L. (2011). “Live and Learn: Why we have college.” The New Yorker. Retrieved on 14 July 2014 from http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2011/06/06/110606crat_atlarge_menand?c urrentPage=all In his article, Menand claims that college education aids in early identification of intelligent persons, this is normally a move to mold them into responsible leaders. Apart from molding, he also claims that college education aids one acquire both skills and knowledge, which are of great importance when it comes to shaping one’s life. The article is important for the research since through it, one is able to gauge himself or herself and in so doing, is in a position to determine a theory that best fits him or her. Read More