"Classical Studies" At Occupy Wall Street

Actually, I seldom listen to Rush Limbaugh.

Earlier this week, however, he brought out an excellent point based in truth -- and the truth, in this case, very much hurts.

He noticed the photo of a notebook displayed at Occupy Wall Street, written by a female college graduate complaining that her Classical Studies degree did not equate to an immediate good-paying job. Specifically, what was written is this:

I graduate college in seven months with a useless degree in Classical Studies. I have worked very hard and am on track to graduate with Latin. I am in a Greek organization with many volunteer hours under my belt. My job prospects, zero."

Imagine that. She even has a website.

Let's take it farther. Let's do what I call the Logical Extension. Because this topic absolutely begs the Logical Extension.

Perhaps, dear vacuous student, your college or university just took massive advantage of yourself and/or your parents. Perhaps they saw you coming from a mile away, someone ill prepared to deal with the realities of our current budgetary times and who filled you with a faux sense of importance and immediacy.

Fostered initially, of course, by your Helicopter Parents.

Not only intimating but outwardly saying that your mere presence was akin to the Second Coming.

A 13-year-old writes a response to you:


My very own nephew would be a perfect example. He "studied" at numerous universities from San Diego to San Francisco, financed by my brother (not his father) so that he could "take" his degree in Philosophy. That and a few dollars equated to his being a barista and then the equivalent of a secretary. He's not a bad kid. He's just a product of today.

My guess? His degree tacked over $100,000, minimum. But I would never be told the amount. Because that would be, well, insensitive. And my brothers simply paid it. Or they have debt in their dotage.

My summary? Kids and parents: universities SEE YOU COMING. And they'll FLEECE YOU to the best of their ability. Because they know that, mostly, each child comes attached to an application for funding. NOW CONTROLLED BY YOUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

And, in an environment where Real Life is absolutely SCREAMING for auto mechanics, HVAC technicians, plasterers, drywallers, plumbers, electricians, welders, metallurgists, woodworkers, cabinet-makers, electrical engineers, scientists --

Kids expect their ridiculous and -- frankly -- USELESS-- "Classical Studies" degree to open a door? Like a degree in "philosophy"?

In this environment, in this economy, what door precisely?

Further, when pressed to their "limits", what does our current generation do?

It goes here:


Or it goes back home to Mommy and Daddy. Who will still take them because of guilt on various and sundry levels. But that's a post for another time entirely.

How to stop the fleecing of Americans in terms of "upper education"?

Stop paying for it.

Once the funding dries out, once the easy government checks cease, American universities and colleges will be absolute scrambling for your dollars, at any rate.

STOP FUNDING COLLEGE TUITIONS.

Nothing more obvious than that.

Government-funded now. Too late.

Your $100K degree and $3 will get you a venti at Starbucks. And that's cheap.

Reality. Deal with it.

BZ