Higher Education: At What Cost--For What Gain?
This weekend, I passed a couple talking on the street outside Starbucks. A young man sweeping the street engaged them in conversation:
Sweeper: Do you like music?
Man at table: Yes.
S: What kind?
MaT: All kinds, but especially classical.
S: Really?
MaT: Yes. I study classical music.
S: Oh, are you getting your Bachelor's or Master's?
MaT: Doctorate.
S: Oh. (his voice dripping with admiration)
By this time I'm exiting earshot. My first thought, was, "Wow. Impressive." Followed quickly by, "What do you do with a PhD in classical music?" The reality of his options made the pursuit not so impressive.
I know people who make an occupation of education to avoid having an occupation. I think they are affectionately referred to as "career students". Education is a noble pursuit, but it is not an end unto itself. There has to be a reason for the education.
When I was in PT school, the Master's program was just gaining popularity. The college I attended entertained the idea of transitioning to a Master's program. The PT faculty convened a student board to gather feedback and gave them the proposed curriculum to review. There were many intellectuals in our group who were enthralled with the idea of going to a Master's. But as we deliberated, we found that essentially no material was added to the Master's curriculum. They had merely stretched our four year program over five years, collecting another year of tuition.
Our conclusion was that if anyone deserved a Master's degree it was us--completing the same amount of information in one year less. It was our contention that it took less intelligence and character to complete their proposed Master's degree than to complete the current Bachelor's degree. They would be turning out weaker students, but awarding them with a higher degree. What good would that do our profession?
We must have made a good argument because the Master's degree was tabled. Eventually my alma mater did go to a Master's, but I'd like to think it was a revamped, higher octane version.
There are people who are impressed with degrees. There always will be. But what do those additional credentials mean? Do they mean anything? Or are they just more money for the colleges? What does that additional education allow you to do that you can't do with a lesser degree? If the degree opens doors that would otherwise remain closed, then it is a worthy pursuit. If the degree merely allows you to put off entering the real world or put money in the college's pocket, then it is an end unto itself and of no value to society or to our profession.