Linda Lee's Argument Against College

Linda Lee wrote an article called “The case against college.” The name of this article is extremely misleading. Linda is not trying to push people away from college, she is simply questioning the benefits of sending her son. In the article Linda talks about students attending college straight out of high school, and if the cost of education is worth it in the long run, as well as many other points. I believe every parent as well as a student should consider reading this article at some point. Some of the statements that Linda makes I agree with, while others I believe depend on the person.

One of the statements I agree most with is “if college is so wonderful how come so many kids stop out.” (Linda Lee) I have never thought about the percent of students who stop going to college, so I did some of my own research. In my research, I have found an article by Dr.S called “The emotional abuse of our children: Teachers, school,

and the sanctioned violence of our modern institutions.” Dr. S points out that having one leader decide what you do everyday as well as pointing you out or even complaining about our daily habits, is quite stressful for students. As a senior, I have dealt with eleven years of wanting to “stop out.” I know that education is a wonderful thing, but the things that come along with education aren’t so much.
In the article Linda, talking about her son, states “But I now know he did not belong in college, at least not straight out of high school.” So many parents push their kids to go to college directly after graduation.

But do kids really belong in college after twelve years of schooling? “The National Association for College Admission counseling has suggested that the practice of taking a gap year is on the rise.” (collegeparents.org) A gap year, is when students take a year off college. What the student decides to do in this case, is completely up to them. This topic is debatable for me. I think that students will slack off if they get that one year off. The gap year is just like a summer vacation, only extended. Students struggle to get back into the habit of going to high school, so I believe they would do the same even if the situation was going to college. A year off may be a good thing for some, just as it probably would have been for Linda’s son. However, I do believe that taking so much time off would be a huge problem for most of

society.
The most contradicting part of this whole article is when Linda asks “who makes more? A plumber of a philosophy major?” Once again, I did my own research and found that in 2013 the average salary for a plumber in 2013 was $58,000. (money.usnews.com) The average income for a philosophy major was $81,200. (online.wsj.com) Linda’s son did not finish college, “he did roofing and fixed broken toilets.
Linda spends all of this time talking about how her son went to school so he “wouldn’t miss the college experience.” At one point Linda even says, “that's when I began wondering why everyone needs to go to college.” But she also states that at one point and time “her son began to pay attention to the details, like the price of a gallon of gasoline.” So which is it? That someone doesn’t need college to make money? Or that once you skip out on college you pay attention to things involving money? I believe everyone has their own choice, however, if you wish to do well in life, at least get an education so that you have backup options.