Education Fall-Out

My recent articles on the jobs I’ve had, education and spiritualism has spurred many of you to write me to continue the discussion via email in private. We’ve covered areas such as over education, lack of apprenticeship in today’s work place. We discussed the lack of commitment among employers and employees and poor work ethics and policies.

Many of you also said that you had fun in college or in University (the Canadians call it University), but the education receive there have been of little use. One person said they thought it was a conspiracy to keep people out of the work force for four more years. Oddly the argument was very good and may deserve an article about it one day.

Out of all the positions I have ever applied for I have never been asked to produce a document proving I had a diploma or a degree. It was often just assumed that I had one or one wasn’t required.

I am personally not impressed by degrees, unless the degree one has relates directly to the work they do. I like it that my dentist has a degree in Dental Science, yet I am not impressed that some of the art that I own was made by someone with a graduate degree.

My father was poorly educated. He dropped out of school in the 6th grade back in the late 1920s, but he went on to learn four languages, ran a successful business and provided a good education for his four children.

It is said that those who graduate high school now will not make it in the world without continuing their education. This is pretty sad because the college education these days is still way over valued, yet I see people with graduate degrees applying for $10 per hour jobs. The market for the over educated is far past its saturation point.

Not only have the high schools failed to deliver adequate life skills education to the students in their charge, but the colleges extend this disappointing result farther into student’s lives. Yes I do know that high schools still offer job training for those who aren't on the college track, and often it is the parent at fault. They don't want to see their kid installing toilets for a living, and they think their kid deserves to be the next CEO of IBM. Let your kid be what they want to be. They will find their own way. This way they won't feel so guilty and you won't feel so resentful when they are installing toilets after having recieved a 100-k education that you are still paying for.

The military is no better. I was speaking with a fellow who finished his tour with the Marines. I asked him what skills he came away with. He told me, “I am now qualified to clean or guard anything.”

So how can one be successful in this world? Unless you are a knuckle dragging, slack jawed mouth breather you have a chance. Develop your verbal and your writing skills, and be sure to read a lot. Be confident without being cocky. Have an air of accomplishment and individualism. Be flexible. Keep your body art and opinions to your self. Remember, opinions are like ass holes, every body has one and most of them stink.

Terry Cole Whitaker (aka the yuppie preacher) once said, “If you can’t find a job, make one up. They are all made up anyway…”

Another quote which I believe came from Reverend Ike is one that I find very interesting. “If you want to be rich, you need to look around and see what all the poor people are doing, and don’t do any of that stuff.”