Joyner 1

Matt Joyner

Dr. Mallory

ENG 1100 - 298

October 20, 2015

Is Higher Education a Necessity?

As an education major, one of my passions is to see students succeed in their educational

careers, and it always saddens me to see many students in our high school systems today that

seemingly do not care about their education. Students nowadays are being groomed to become

nonchalant when it comes to their education, as government officials, chief executive officers,

and other people with higher power in this nation present an easier lifestyle to the youth of today.

While some will say that college and higher education is not for everyone, others proclaim that

higher education is necessary in a rapidly changing world. This paper will take into account both

sides of the story, and will present an argument somewhere in the middle of the two extremes, so

that the general audience can make a decision: Is higher education necessary?

On May 2013, First Lady Michelle Obama gave a commencement address to the

graduating class at Bowie State University in Maryland. A primarily African-American institute,

Obama stressed the importance and vitality of an education through detailing the history of the

school and the troubles that African-Americans have faced to get an education. Obama

highlighted two specific graduates in her address Ariel Williams-Edwards and Audrey Marie

Lugmayer. These two students were the shining examples of her speech, as they both were

extremely successful in college and managed to obtain that success in spite of diversity and

chaos in their home lives. Obamas purpose was happily received by her audience, and a

persuasive manner to encourage the youth of today to obtain a higher degree is clearly portrayed.
 Joyner 2

In her address, Obama provided useful statistics of how educated people live longer, are far less

likely to be unemployed, and make much more money than high school dropouts. These

characteristics listed are key components of a successful life.

Julius Gy. Paulovits is the author of the article, A Look at Career Education Is it

Necessary?. This article argues that the youth of today are less content with the success that

comes along with a hard work ethic. Paulovits concludes that young individuals look life in

the face, seek for its meanings and conclude that it has none (345). Sadly, this is the case in

many high school settings today as there is a deficiency of motivation, satisfaction, and personal

success (345). In the midst of negative, connotative notions among adolescents, Paulovits sides

with experts who say that education is still important, and perhaps even more so in todays

society. In his article, Paulovits provides a solution start a career education oriented

curriculum and integrate that into the high school environment. Doing this may solve the high

rate of drop-outs and the inadequate preparation of students for jobs in the real world (346).

A solution contrary to Paulovits is presented by the author of the article Are Too Many

People Going to College?, Charles Murray. It is clear that Murray is strongly opinionated on

todays education system, the curriculum that it is teaching, and the wrong stance of heavily

forcing people to achieve a degree in college. Murray believes that everyones learning style

varies from one person to the next. Therefore, college is not the best option for everyone and if

forced to go to college, one could fail horribly and not become as successful as they would have

been had they not gone to a four-year university. Murray believes that todays colleges and

universities are changing so much that they are becoming a superfluous source of information

rather than learning environments based on colleagueship.

 Joyner 3

The three articles provide three distinct views on education. While Obama and Paulovits

agree that higher education is essential in todays society for a successful life, Murray disagrees.

I am inclined to believe Obama and Paulovits standpoints as they offer a clearer, and more

neutral perspective on the vitality of education. The statistics provided in Obamas speech and

Paulovits examples of the need for jobs concerning advancing technology are both great

supporting details that give credibility to their stances. However, I am also inclined to believe

Murrays viewpoint that everyones individuality, which influences their learning styles. In my

opinion, college should be for everyone, but Murray does not acquiesce. Therefore, a solution

that I find most plausible takes into consideration all three of these articles. Throughout primary

education, students should be taught the essential knowledge that everyone should know. In high

school, a continuation of this should be stressed, but for those who are interested in pursuing jobs

that may not require an associates, bachelors, masters, or doctorate degree, start incorporating

career-oriented classes into the curriculum. I also propose that the curriculum should be rigorous

enough that when the choice is made to attend a four-year college or university, that one can

enter in with a solid enough foundation, and can evade the college culture shock full of

rigorous work.

To definitively answer the question proposed at the beginning of the paper, I

wholeheartedly agree that higher education is a necessity in todays society. Education is more

important today than it has ever been before. Hopefully through this paper, whether higher

education denotes a college degree, or a career-adapted curriculum that is taken through a

secondary school situation, that one is inclined to believe that it is important and a vital necessity

for the ever-changing world that we all inhabit and coexist.

 Joyner 4

Works Cited

Murray, Charles. "Are Too Many People Going To College?." They Say, I Say: With Readings.

3rd ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2015. 234-53. Print.

Obama, Michelle. "Bowie State University Commencement Speech." They Say, I Say: With

Readings. 3rd ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2015. 285-95. Print.

Paulovits, Julius Gy. "A Look at Career Education--is it Necessary?" Education 100.4 (1980):

344-7. ProQuest. Web. 19 Oct. 2015.