[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Azure

I think the whole 'do what you love' is misguided, because it isn't presented fairly, nor should it be a realistic career choice. And, telling kids to do what they love, as in go to school for something they love doing is especially misguided because like mentioned before, how many kids know what love to do at 18 or 19?

Not many. Not many know what they want to do at 25 or 30. This is why a broad education base focused on critical thinking and the liberal arts - what makes us human and makes our societies thrive or fail. As I mentioned, most people will change careers multiple times during their lives, so a general foundation of skills that will carry them through to success is the most important thing an education can provide to an individual.

"Do what you love, as long as it involves a 4 year degree in the humanities, and don't forget to rack up as much student debt as you can."

There has to be some kind of shift towards filling actual jobs. If we can't get kids to show interest in those fields, we need to change how we teach them.

As I mentioned, this is happening. Vocational schools and training are growing and becoming available at the high school level where those skills need to begin to be offered. The market has shifted to this modality and it is gaining more traction, especially at the college level. I think this is something that you're conflating in your argument. Colleges and universities are different beasts with different missions. Vocational training or skill development is not the responsibility of a university, and the college could argue the same in some regards, but I have long argued that college needs to offer those vocational opportunities so there is a crossover opportunity for some students - going both ways. That is happening, but not to the extent is should IMO.

As for the micro-degrees, if you look at a job like systems administrators, there is no 4 year degree for it. Instead you get certified for a bunch of stuff, build up experience, etc. Exactly like you mentioned Lanny. And then you learn on the job, upgrade our certifications, etc.

So the micro-degrees help build up your educational foundation, and then you learn on the job. Unfortunately a lot of companies (and teachers) are still stuck in the no post secondary 4 year program, no job stupidity.

Micro-certifications (not degrees) are no replacement for a degree. A degree provides a framework of learning and a body of information that builds off of each subsequent class to establish a knowledge base that cannot be attained through individual technology specific certifications. The layering of certifications and degrees is where the sweet spot is and will lead to the greatest expertise and foundation to be successful.

Google is saying the current system sucks. If we're not listening to what they're saying, our kids are screwed.

Google says a lot of stupid ####. If we are listening to Google for stuff like this, our kids are screwed. The system needs some minor changes, and those changes are happening. We do not need to throw the baby out with the bath water. Again, just like UBI, we need to understand the larger system and make some change, not burn the whole thing to the ground.