President Obama’s speech at thes Democratic Convention included a shout-out to community colleges and a call for controlling college costs. ”Help give two million workers the chance to learn skills at their community college that will lead directly to a job,” the president said. “Help us work with colleges and universities to cut in half the growth of tuition costs over the next ten years.” Obama also praised the government’s takeover of student loans.
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at 6:05 pm
Just a thought– both President Obama and former President Bush see community colleges as institutions quite capable of vocational (workforce) training. But I fear a disconnect– community college staff and leaders so often view themselves as “higher education leaders” (jucos of the old school model)– transfer institutions– money-saving two year colleges that prepare students for successful university careers.
Ah, my friends, the people want jobs, not big speeches and philosophy. Let us ground ourselves in a post-secondary reality.
Would you rather drive a bulldozer and make 40 dollars an hour– honest labor with a future– or sit at the local Moonbuck’s, an unemployed graduate student, abject and penniless, an expert on the novels of William Dean Howells? Why does everyone want a shirt, a tie, a suit, an office, and the ongoing malaise of indecision? Thanks