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[rayzentz AT aim.com]

Just caught the tail end of this thread...   and I agree with James, for the 
most part.
 
Particularly in my field, which is music and performing arts.   I actually 
went through and finished the Piled Higher and Deeper degree, but for me, it 
was just a natural progression of interest.   When you audition for a show, 
or an ensemble, no-one cares what your degree is, they just want to know if 
you can do what's required, and are competent.   The whole purpose for 
college is to gain experience, which is the best teacher anyway.   If you are 
in an area with active community arts programs, that can be the best way to 
gain experience.  Of course, you also have to have the drive to win, which, 
as James so aptly pointed out, is inherent in those successful individuals, 
anyway, college or no.
 
Incidentally, my viewpoint is not particularly popular among my peers...  ;-)
 
Ray
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Clansgian AT wmconnect.com
To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
Sent: Sun, 19 Nov 2006 8:55 PM
Subject: Re: [Homestead] Schooling issues




> James, what is your view on higher education? 

My view is that it is mostly a waste of time and resources.

We've often heard the old saw that those with college degrees (on the 
average) earn more.  But a close look of those stats taken by some make them 
conclude 
that there was no cause and effect.  The sort of person who was likely to 
earn more money was also the sort of person likely to go to college, nothing 
more 
than that.

If a young person, say at age sixteen, embarked upon a trade or enterprise, 
we'd find them at 22, like as not, well heeled and prosperous.  We'd find the 
college bound just starting out and deeply in debt.  The latter would never 
catch up with the former.

As far as the professions you mentioned, alas, you are asking a radical 
lunatic fringe libertarian.  My view is that they should no be regulated or 
licensed at all by the government and it should be a complete 'caveat emptor' 
way of 
regulating the trades.  Therefore if the best way to being a physician was to 
go to college, then fine, the market would dictate that.  But if self study 
and apprenticeship and such worked better, then that's how it would be.   You 
probably know that in some states, Virginia is one, you can become a lawyer 
by 
"reading the law", not literally, of course, it's a sort of apprenticeship.

I have the embarassment of a number of degrees.  All a total waste of time.  
College has got to be one of the most inefficient ways of learning there is.  
I suspect that in time the internet will render it obsolete.
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