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Americans Are Losing Faith in the Value of College. Whose Fault Is That? By Paul Tough

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Americans Are Losing Faith in the Value of College. Whose Fault Is That? By Paul Tough

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It cannot be believed by anyone who will reflect that the value of higher education should even be in question; it is something that feels like a bedrock principle to me, or at least it used to. "A decade later, Americans’ feelings about higher education have turned sharply negative. The percentage of young adults who said that a college degree is very important fell to 41 percent from 74 percent. Only about a third of Americans now say they have a lot of confidence in higher education" (Tough 2). In theory, higher education is the gateway to pretty much everything that matters: knowledge, personal growth, and societal progress. Yet, in the current state of things, society has become, as I see it, unfortunately skeptical of its necessity, viewing college as an unnecessary burden rather than an enriching experience. However, as faith in the system is apparently dwindling – and it is – fewer individuals see higher education as a stepping stone to success. This loss of trust is not because education itself is flawed, but rather a reflection of a society that has lost sight of the bigger picture.

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The Ideal Economic Role of Higher Education

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The Ideal Economic Role of Higher Education

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Education ought to be an investment in a better future for individuals and for society as a whole. In a just system, higher education would be accessible and designed to nurture talent rather than drain financial resources from people who are just trying to do better for themselves. The pursuit of knowledge should be met with, as I see it, robust financial support, ensuring that all who seek education can do so without the type of dreadful fear that comes from debt and instability. If the system were working like it ought to, then the economic benefit of attending college would not be a gamble but a guarantee—providing individuals with the financial security and opportunities that they need to thrive. However, the cost of everything continues to rise, making things harder for many people.

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The true purpose of education, like I mentioned earlier, is to level the playing field, making sure that success is based on effort and intellect rather than social status or wealth. Now, I know that sounds idealistic, and maybe it is, but still, in a society that valued fairness, access to higher education would not be dictated by financial means or family connections, but by a genuine passion for learning. I cannot entirely agree with the notion that things should be based on anything else, but that’s just me. A world where education is structured to uplift all individuals, instead of maintaining existing hierarchies, would be a world where true progress could be achieved. In this vision, universities would be the great equalizers, offering opportunities that transcend pretty much every social and economic barrier.

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Higher education should not be reduced to a transaction where students exchange money for a diploma in the hopes of landing a lucrative job, as there needs to be more of an emphasis on the transformative power of education. It ought to be a space of exploration and discovery, where individuals are encouraged to challenge their perspectives and expand their understanding of the world. In an ideal society, education would be valued for its intrinsic worth, such as the ability to cultivate wisdom, critical thinking, and a sense of purpose. Rather than being an ideological battleground, universities should be places where differing viewpoints can coexist and be debated with respect, fostering an environment of intellectual curiosity. I know that may sound too good to be true, but it would be something else if schools actually did that.

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While many Americans might not see it, other nations seem to recognize that investing in education strengthens society as a whole. Tough states, "Outside the United States, meanwhile, higher education is more popular than ever. Our global allies and competitors have spent the last couple of decades racing to raise their national levels of educational attainment" (2). In an ideal world, the United States would follow suit. A commitment to higher education should not be a privilege, but something that is a necessity for progress. If education were prioritized the way it should be, nations would not only compete for economic and technological advancements, but also for the most educated and enlightened population. The end goal of higher education ought not to be to reinforce existing power structures but to empower the next generation with the knowledge and skills they need to shape a better world. It cannot be believed by any man who will reflect that if this was the case, a lot of things would probably be better than they are right now.

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The argument mapping activity in Project 2 definitely broadened my horizons on how arguments are structured and developed, and was more than just a walk in the park. I thought that the article would just give a straight-forward analysis on why people are viewing college differently, but I definitely misjudged how complex it was. Instead of chalking it up to one thing, the author blended economic factors, political perspectives, and those social influences we talked about in class. Mapping it out was a whole different beast than I thought it would be.

But, one of the best parts of this project was being able to break the argument down visually, piece by piece. Seeing how each idea connected and how the evidence backed everything up was pretty cool. What was really interesting was seeing how the author tried to ride that line between hard facts and those ideological perspectives, showing that people were concerned about costs and all those cultural shifts that we talked about in class.

Trying to capture the argument's depth without dumbing it down was a challenge for sure. There were so many layers, and I had to really think about what the main points were versus just the evidence backing them up. I had to dig deep into the text, constantly going back to those notes we took in class. But, in the end, I think I got a better handle on the argument and what it was trying to say. That Robinson mapping exercise we did definitely helped set me up, giving me a framework for spotting those key claims and the stuff that backs them up.

Now, I think I have some skills that I can actually use in the future with readings and assignments. By mapping out the argument, I had to think critically about how the information was shown and how each piece of evidence supported the big picture. Overall, I think this project made me better at analyzing and judging arguments, which is something that will help me out in not only academic writing but also when talking with people in the real world.

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The Role of Higher Education in Shaping Society

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The Role of Higher Education in Shaping Society

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Beyond individual financial gain, higher education serves a crucial role in shaping an informed, innovative, and engaged society. In an ideal world, universities would not only prepare students for careers but also instill a sense of civic responsibility, ethical reasoning, and creative problem-solving. Education should not be viewed solely as a pathway to personal wealth but as a means of fostering critical thinkers who can contribute meaningfully to their communities and the world at large. If higher education were structured to emphasize collaboration, innovation, and the pursuit of knowledge for the betterment of society, it would be widely recognized as an essential institution rather than a burdensome expense. A strong, well-educated population leads to advancements in science, medicine, and the arts, strengthening both local communities and the global landscape. Instead of debating the financial worth of a degree, society should focus on ensuring that higher education fulfills its broader purpose—shaping individuals who are equipped to address the challenges of the future.

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College Wage Premium – the difference in earnings between people with a college degree and those with a high school diploma

College Wealth Premium – the difference in net worth between families headed by someone with a college degree and those without

Downturn- a decline in economic, business, or other activity.

The College Casino - the idea that a student's academic future on whether they will go to a college is almost entirely reliant on whether the student's parents can financially support them.

Downside Risk- Unlike in past decades, where a degree almost guaranteed higher earnings, today's students face a significant chance of financial loss, particularly if they don’t graduate or choose lower-paying majors.