How Did We Ever Get Higher Ed Backwards?

[marmar]

from Too Much: A Commentary on Excess and Inequality:




How Did We Ever Get Higher Ed Backwards?
May 21, 2011

Back in the mid 20th century, colleges and universities helped America beat down economic inequality. Now they reinforce it.

By Sam Pizzigati


The American Dream isn’t quite unfolding the way Richard Silva expected. The 20-year-old Silva is currently studying at Cerritos College, a two-year school south of Los Angeles. He graduated from high school in 2009 and anticipated, back then, that he’d be transferring to a four-year school this coming fall.

No way. Cerritos is not offering the courses students like Silva need to graduate. In 2008, the college’s summer session offered 1,352 courses. This summer’s course roster totals about 200. A two-year course of study, protesting Cerritos students charged last week, now takes three to five, even six, years.

“At this rate,” Silva said last week, “I won’t be able to transfer to a four year university until 2013.”

Richard Silva hardly stands alone. Less than half U.S. high school grads today who go on to postsecondary education receive any degree within six years. .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://toomuchonline.org/how-did-we-ever-get-higher-ed-backwards/