National Center On Education And The Economy. America’s Choice: high skills or low wages!. New York: The National Center On Education And The Economy,1990. Print.
In June of 1990 The National Center On Education And The Economy compiled and published in depth report. Within this report there’s a section which solely addresses the education system and its impact with employment, and the workforce. The details range from how America spends little funds to help lower income children succeed, the gains schools receive when students drop out, and the views employers have about recent graduates.
Some of the included information is very surprising. The language is a bit jargon-y and there is no praise given to the current education system. Pointing out the gaps and critics of any argument is commendable, but surely there’s something of merit to the opposition. These authors however do not address anything of praise to the system. Their Ethos is created from their use of statistics, data, graphs and multiple contributors of information. The combination of the visual element to the text is very effective. The language use also belies their love of the European graduate. There is strong respect given in undertones to the apprenticeship programs and education level of Europe, though not explicitly stated.
Most of the information from this source caught me unawares! I do agree mostly with this source, I see first hand how income levels effect education. One of the beginning sections states how schools divide children early on into those who will succeed and continue on to college and those who have low ability and will probably be nothing more than a lowly labor worker. The children who are deemed college- bound usually come from wealthier classes, and are given the most attention and are pushed further. The other group is encouraged to not be pushed very hard, and to achieve only minimal standards. This they continue to do all of their lives. Ironically the schools actually benefit from drop outs. I do agree that schools need to give a stronger amount of help to those from low income families. I also believe that we should have something in place to help transition students who do not wish to – or who can not afford to go to college can enter the work place. Though I disagree with the notion that it’s wrong to emphasize attention on to college bound students. I believe that striving for a better education is something that creates innovation and drive. If it became some kind of … required application, it would be less appreciated. I believe the quality of the education would lesson.
This source brings several questions to my mind. If Europe has much better education systems then why do more people strive to come to the U.S.? I have to wonder if the European markets are a bit stagnant, and free of creativity. What kind of help is Job corps providing really? Is it a transition step from high school to low paying labor, or is it an opportunity for a real education for the less fortunate. A surprising statement made by this source is that “More than any other country in the world, the United States believes that natural ability, rather than effort, explains achievement” I’m curious as to how they found this bit of information out. This report was written in the 1990’s causing the obvious questions of what’s changed since then, and how. One eerie part of this source is that there’s a very strong prediction made- that if America continues on its path- then there will be lower wages. Now in 2011 This prediction has rung true, we’ve seen out sourcing, people being replaced by automated machines, and now more than ever employers view their workforce as expendable, and so the wages have dropped. The National minimum wage amount may have risen, but this has only created more layoffs and fewer well- paying jobs, with benefits, or pensions. The amount of 8.50 an hour- is not a livable wage even in a full time aspect, and most jobs are part-time.
