Is Your College A Liberal Madrasa?

          The United States of the 21^st Century is fortunate to have some of the best colleges and universities in the history of the world.  Year after year, these institutions graduate first rate scholars in every field of study who then move on to successful careers, making contributions that benefit all of us.  Unfortunately, there are also some institutions of higher learning that scam their students into paying up to $40,000 a year in tuition to attend what amounts to a liberal indoctrination camp.  It is understandable that these students would be discouraged (make that outraged) when they emerge from these madrasa-like enclaves without having improved upon their high school reading and writing skills, without learning history and science and without learning how to be creative and think for themselves.  Oh, but they’re experts in such subjects as Diversity and Social Justice, Marxist Concepts of Racism and Queer Musicology, all actual courses at major universities!  The moment of truth comes when these hapless students discover that the diploma they received isn’t worth the paper it was printed on and that, after all the money they invested, they can’t find a job.

Pay Back Your Debt

          We sympathize with the graduates of these colleges and universities, many of whom are now camping out on Wall Street and in other cities throughout the country demanding that their student loan debts be forgiven.  Make no mistake, we firmly believe that an education loan obligation, like any loan that an individual has legally agreed to pay back, must be met without government assistance.  Nonetheless, it is entirely appropriate for these students to return to the ivy covered halls of their alma mater and demand a refund.  Considering the outrageous fees levied by some of these universities, those which have not lived up to their obligation and delivered what they promised should return a portion of the tuition to these students.  Rather than blame everyone else for this debacle, we encourage all students who are now protesting their student loans due to these scams to hold their college or university accountable and seek recompense.

A Privilege Not a Right 

          There was a time when going to college was a privilege for those who worked hard in high school, had the intelligence and drive to get through the rigors of higher education and had a requirement to get special training for a specific vocation.  Now, it seems, college is a right due everyone whether or not they have earned it.  In 1959 approximately 45% of high school graduates enrolled in college.  By 2009 that number had jumped to 70%.  Of course, the colleges and universities capitalized on all of this by dumbing down the entrance requirements and pumping up the tuition fees.  To cite statistics for just one year, costs were up 8.3% in the Fall of 2011, when the rest of the country was in an economic freefall, without any corresponding increase in benefits for the students.  Obviously, all of this cheapens the value of a college degree for everyone and now college graduates almost have to get an advanced degree to be competitive in the job market.

Not Everyone Needs to Go to College 

          Many high school students would do better in the long run if they entered the work force directly after graduation, especially if they have shown no aptitude for studying while in school.  In fact, faced with this prospect, they may be more inclined to apply themselves and take advantage of the free education they are provided in high school.  Vocational school would be a much better fit for someone planning to enter the skilled labor force and for many others the two year curriculum at a community college is all that is needed to prepare them for the work force without busting the budget.  Parents should think twice before incurring significant debt for themselves and their children just to send them off to college for four, five or six years of partying, pontificating and procrastinating.  It may not be worth it when all you get for your trouble is a child who eventually moves back home as a brain washed, liberal automaton who has forsaken all your values!