Plenty of data support the financial benefits of a college degree, an argument that’s unlikely to change. Does that mean that the status quo, which favors standard four-year colleges and ever-increasing rates of student debt, is acceptable? Nationally syndicated columnist and former White House policy advisor Michael Gerson argues the urgent need for new policies in this Washington Post article from April 2014.
Read it here: Gerson, "The payoff of a college education”
- In addressing Republicans’ statements about the problem of higher education, Gerson notes that their “indifference [to the issue] hurts as much as the issue.” What does he mean? Explain his assertion. Do you agree? Why or why not?
- While many defenders of higher education focus on its quantifiable benefits to graduates and their families, Gerson emphasizes the less-quantifiable benefits to the nation as a whole by asserting that “it is difficult, in an economy that places a premium on skills, to regard a smaller aggregate stock of skills as a positive development.” What evidence does he present to make his case?
- Gerson is arguing for certain education policy changes, but rather than addressing his remarks to Congress, the Department of Education, or education leadership in general, he seems to be making suggestions specifically to the Republican Party. Why might he have chosen to direct his comments to that group? What is he asking them to do?
- Read (or re-read) Hacker and Dreifus’ essay in Chapter 14 of your text. The authors make concrete proposals for reforming higher education and showcase several examples of innovative schools and programs. How might Gerson respond to their suggestions? How might they in turn respond to Gerson? Using both articles as your “they say,” write an essay in which you make suggestions and proposals for improving higher education in the U.S, starting by identifying what you believe the main problem to be. Support your argument with your experience and perspective as a student and as a person with a direct stake in the situation.
They Say I Blog 
1) The expense of a collage education continues to rise and tuition is becoming increasingly expensive for the lower middle class, per Gerson. The author believes that many teenagers graduating high school are foregoing collage because of the loan debt they would acquire while obtaining their degree. I cannot argue with what Gerson is saying, as a student myself I see the debt one can get into if they are not careful.
2) The author uses evidence to present his case that this last fall had the lowest enrollment of high school graduates since 2006. Gerson believes this is because of the struggling economy, or increasing job aspects.
3) Gerson seems to be trying to persuade Republicans to not only think of the higher costs of education, but the importance of educated people with degrees in this country’s work force. Gerson is doing this fully aware of that the Republican Party has always been against spending money on education, whether it was post-secondary or precollege education.
4) The author discusses the increase of tuition vs the fact that the quality of education seems to be declining. How students do not receive the individual attention anymore, and are considered more of a number. It seems that he may believe young people may be in the mindset that getting a degree is more trouble than it is worth. It seems to me that Gerson uses a political standpoint of persuasion in discussion these topics.
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Michael Gerson is wrong, college should be looked at as an investment in your future. You should look at the ups and downs of a degree or the school that you’re looking into. When I was selecting the colleges I would like to attend I made sure that it was cost-effective and the degree I wanted to pursue would put me in a position that would let me pay my college debts off easily. I feel that there are enough government programs out there to help everyone in need. With regards to middle-class families being put in a gray area where they get some form of government aid but still have a substantial bill to pay. you could enroll in The Excelsior Scholarship at least in New York state this helps out middle-class families making 125,000 dollars a year with free college.
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