RADIO SHOW/AUDIO PODCAST
Solutions...with Courtney Anderson! (SwCA)
Episode 021 -
Originally aired 1/21/2014 9:00 AM -
MYTH WARRIORS! series -
“A degree is just a piece of paper!”
TALK SHOW EPISODE NOTESThis is an episode that I feel compelled to do! Our MYTH WARRIORS™ series is about targeting ideas to begin the assessment of whether they are credible or not. As a long time educator, long time student and someone who passionately believes in the benefits of education, I have to explore this target topic of, “A degree is just a piece of paper!” I continue to hear people express this sentiment, so let's go!
There are a multitude of studies that express the conclusion that individuals with higher education earn more income than those without higher education. Yet, I am not convinced that there is a consensus among people as to why that fact exists. If you believe that people are “lucky” and some some “get rich” while others simply are “unlucky”, that is a position (with an external locus of control perspective) that negates the belief in higher education. If you believe that people earn more income because of what they can do (for an employer, client, vendor or partner), then it it logical that if you have more skills (and higher level skills) you will be able to earn higher incomes. This is a position based on an internal locus of control. My perspective is that there is an element of disorder in nature (entropy, or what some might broadly label as luck). Horribly awful things have happened in my life that were entirely out of my control (some would label it “bad luck”). That is reality. Yet, I am proposing that if a degree is simply a piece of paper, then it will have no value or relationship to income opportunities (just like any other random piece of paper). This is the argument of those who support this target myth. They will often state that they know someone with degrees who is poor so that proves that degrees are worthless. That leaves few alternatives remaining to have opportunity for future economic success. Let’s explore this topic! |
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