In A Generation Hobbled by the Soaring Cost of College, Andrew Martin and Andrew Lehren discuss the tumultuous effects of college expenses on average American students. In capitalist America, it seems as though education has become another product to sell to the highest bidder. Schools market their programs to perspective students like any other advertising campaign, highlighting the glamour and glossing over the negativity. They fail to admit the true, staggering costs for college--for independence, and ultimately, the American Dream. The Millennial generation, throughout our education, has been consistently bombarded with reminders to succeed in school in order to attend a prestigious school in hopes of landing a decent job. This steady diet of academic, economic, and social pressure urges individuals to pursue a higher education, no matter the price tag. The American Dream is shrouded with materialism and is nearly unattainable in today's economy, especially when the path to a degree, the gateway to earning a salary, leaves one penniless.
Joshua Holland speculates the reasoning behind the individualistic behavior of America's youth in his article Millennials Didn't Abandon Our Institutions--Our Institutions Failed Them. Growing up in a country "[dominated] by a faceless few" and run by "partisan politics", it's no wonder Millenials lack the trust that their ancestors had in their government (Holland). It's pretty easy for America's youth to feel disregarded by our government when, last year for example, they spent nearly ten times what they did on education on the military. With instances like this, we have been assured that our institutions are not always the altruistic communities they claim to be.
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
English 1b homework 04/09
Martin and Lehrens article shows that the American Dream is an illusion and a trap and a bad way of going about getting an education. "But when she visited Ohio Northern, she was won over by faculty and admission staff members who urged students to pursue their dreams rather than obsess on the sticker price." This shows that students are being sucked into thinking taking out loans is not a big deal, when in reality students end up trapped by the debt they owe. The American dream is based on going to college and getting that dream job, but now that debts are becoming such a burden it is making the American Dream an illusion.
In Hollands article it shows that the American Dream and the way of thinking around it is starting to show cracks , prove inefficient and fail the coming generations. "One third of Millenials who left the religious institutions of their upbringings cite 'negative teachings' and 'negative treatment' of LGBT communities as primary reasons for their departure." This shows that old ways of thinking are not being accepted anymore. The way people think is changing and what use to be "right" generations ago is now showing to be wrong. The "American Dream" might as well just be a era in time.
In Hollands article it shows that the American Dream and the way of thinking around it is starting to show cracks , prove inefficient and fail the coming generations. "One third of Millenials who left the religious institutions of their upbringings cite 'negative teachings' and 'negative treatment' of LGBT communities as primary reasons for their departure." This shows that old ways of thinking are not being accepted anymore. The way people think is changing and what use to be "right" generations ago is now showing to be wrong. The "American Dream" might as well just be a era in time.
Aricle (Response)
I was not surprised to learn that the student debt is rinsing according to the article A Generation Hobbled by the Soaring Cost of College. It makes me sick that the schools "urge students to pursue their dreams rather than obsess on the sticker price." (Martin and Lehren). Yes, education is important and for most students it is part of the American Dream, to get an education, get a successful job and live happily ever after. However, like the article states, "Nothing Is Free", (Martin and Lehren). Part of the American dream is having the opportunity to be able to do anything you want, anything is possible...but at what cost?
In regards to the article, Millennials Didn't Abandon Our Institutions-Our Institutions Failed Them, there is no surprise there either. This generation does not trust anyone or anything any more. I am one of them, and I do no like to label my self or be part of any political party. Everything is so corrupted it is disgusting. I conciser myself to be and extreme individualist. I strongly believe that the American Dream is part of being extremely independent and conciser yourself the most important person. You come first, and always first regardless if people follow you or not. This means getting in deep debt and drowning in it. Why? Because it is part of the American Dream , is it not? We have to do what we need to do to live it. "the first generation in the modern era to have higher level of student loan debt, poverty and unemployment, and lower level of wealth and personal income than their two immediate predecessor generations..." (Holland). This new generation is being pushed to the extreme and to be highly independent. Our society in whole is and individualist society, who gets in deep doo doo, to pursue the American Dream.
In regards to the article, Millennials Didn't Abandon Our Institutions-Our Institutions Failed Them, there is no surprise there either. This generation does not trust anyone or anything any more. I am one of them, and I do no like to label my self or be part of any political party. Everything is so corrupted it is disgusting. I conciser myself to be and extreme individualist. I strongly believe that the American Dream is part of being extremely independent and conciser yourself the most important person. You come first, and always first regardless if people follow you or not. This means getting in deep debt and drowning in it. Why? Because it is part of the American Dream , is it not? We have to do what we need to do to live it. "the first generation in the modern era to have higher level of student loan debt, poverty and unemployment, and lower level of wealth and personal income than their two immediate predecessor generations..." (Holland). This new generation is being pushed to the extreme and to be highly independent. Our society in whole is and individualist society, who gets in deep doo doo, to pursue the American Dream.
"Response to Two Articles: How They Relate to My Life"
The first article "A Generation Hobbled by the Soaring Cost of College" by Andrew Martin and Andrew W. Lehren focuses on how increases in college cost have caused so many negative consequences. I can obviously relate to this topic because as a college student I have noticed how expensive it can be. It's hard to imagine how expensive a for-profit college could be since I attend a community college. I also can't really relate to how someone feels when taking out a loan. After reading this I can really understand how awful it must be. I really appreciate how the authors are sort of warning the public about how bad the cost of a higher education will get if this continues.The authors support this opinion by stating that by the year "2016, the average cost of a public college will have more than doubled in just 15 years"(3). This warning really has influenced my views on how this problem can get even worse than how it is now. When reading this article by far the thing that most caught my attention was when Evan Frank talks about his experience with a high school counselor, on page seven. He mentions that his high school counselor encouraged him to go to a school that he on his own couldn't afford without going into a huge amount of dept. One of my high school counselors also pressured me into going to a UC or CSU and never even helped me find other options like a community college. Overall I really enjoyed reading this article and moved on the second.
The second article "Millennials Didn't Abandon Our Institutions - Our Institutions Failed Them" by Joshua Holland was about the Millennial generation or those born between 1980 and 2000. This definitely connects to my life because I am 19 so i am part of the Millennial generation. the article mentions many things that I have witnessed and they seem to be true. These characteristics that many Millennials seem to portray are not always looked upon as a positive thing. Holland states that Millennials are" increasingly alienated from the major institutions of American society."(1). Many other qualities are mentioned but the author instead of blaming the whole generation give thoughtful causes for why this is. This article like the first one was very interesting. both can relate to my life and experiences.
American Dream Response on Articles
In the article "A Generation Hobbled by the Soaring Coast of College" by Andrew Martin and Andrew Lehren the authors reveal that the "american dream" is not all that wonderful and easy regarding education and finances as young adults grow older. The articles main focus is to make a connection with education and how many students apply to college but how the students do not understand to what extent the amount of dept the students will be in because they are informed. But, according to parents " the only thing worse than graduating with lots of dept is not going to college at all" (Martin and Lehren). Therefore the dept is being seen as a "okay" thing even the stress can take a toll. The american dream is to invest in one's education even with the dept because in the end one will have a better job and it will be worth it.
The american dream related to the Millennial generation -people born between 1980s and 2000s- is that "they are turned off by religion, see little difference between two major political parties" (Holland). But, in the article the american dream essential is always changing in regards to religion as far as how to vote.
The american dream related to the Millennial generation -people born between 1980s and 2000s- is that "they are turned off by religion, see little difference between two major political parties" (Holland). But, in the article the american dream essential is always changing in regards to religion as far as how to vote.
American Dream Packet Response
The article A Generation Hobbled by the Soaring Cost of College, by Martin and Lehran, paints a fairly bleak and depressing picture of the reality of today's student loan debt. Throughout the article they use some pretty large numbers ranging from $50,000 to even $120,000. What really drives these numbers home is when one reads about the people themselves and the lengths that they are going to pay off their debt, Christina Hagan for example. Ms. Hagan has a seat on the Ohio House of Representatives at the age of 23, but to make ends meet she also has to wait tables at a Mexican restaurant just to pay off her $60,000 student loan debt. Personally I believe that Student loan debt is one of the largest problems when it comes to achieving the American Dream in today's society. The main problem in my opinion is this idea that has been instilled in everyone that you have to go to college for an education. The smart thing to do to better yourself is to go to a trade school instead of a for profit university, this allows you to get an education in a trade, such as being an electrician or a mechanic. Yes, I know that this is not as glamorous as a degree from a university, but these are jobs that are becoming high in demand because of the shift away from these jobs in America meaning that there is big money for those who can put up with not having a degree in Psychology or Mathematics. The fact of the matter is that student loan debt does not mean the end of the American Dream, however, those who want to go to college have to understand the challenges that face them after graduation.
The article Millennials Didn't Abandon Our Institutions-Our Institutions Failed Them, by Holland, really said what I think a fair amount of people in the Millennial Generation are thinking, that traditional institutions have failed us. The reason for this mistrust of major institutions would have to be because of the current political and economical climate that many millennials have grown up in. Government is probably the best example of this mistrust, how can we trust the government when they have racked up $17 trillion in national debt, fought a war for the last 11 years and when there are over 10.5 million people unemployed and looking for work. It is not just the government that many do not trust, big companies are also on the list. One good example of reasons for not trusting big businesses, and government, would have to be the current General Motors recall that has been going on recently. Basically GM built a car that can turn itself and the airbags off while driving at speed, which has been the cause of 13 deaths, and the company has known about the issue since before the car was put into production. Whats even worse is that the NHTSA(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) knew about the issue in 2007, but never looked into it. So here is the US Government and General Motors with the blood of 13 people on their hands, and people wonder why Millennials don't trust the major institutions.
(For a brief overview of the GM ignition switch read this: http://www.npr.org/2014/03/31/297312252/the-long-road-to-gms-ignition-switch-recall)
The article Millennials Didn't Abandon Our Institutions-Our Institutions Failed Them, by Holland, really said what I think a fair amount of people in the Millennial Generation are thinking, that traditional institutions have failed us. The reason for this mistrust of major institutions would have to be because of the current political and economical climate that many millennials have grown up in. Government is probably the best example of this mistrust, how can we trust the government when they have racked up $17 trillion in national debt, fought a war for the last 11 years and when there are over 10.5 million people unemployed and looking for work. It is not just the government that many do not trust, big companies are also on the list. One good example of reasons for not trusting big businesses, and government, would have to be the current General Motors recall that has been going on recently. Basically GM built a car that can turn itself and the airbags off while driving at speed, which has been the cause of 13 deaths, and the company has known about the issue since before the car was put into production. Whats even worse is that the NHTSA(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) knew about the issue in 2007, but never looked into it. So here is the US Government and General Motors with the blood of 13 people on their hands, and people wonder why Millennials don't trust the major institutions.
(For a brief overview of the GM ignition switch read this: http://www.npr.org/2014/03/31/297312252/the-long-road-to-gms-ignition-switch-recall)
Monday, April 7, 2014
Instructions:
Before our next class meeting, post a brief response about how both of the articles we read for Wednesday relate to the American Dream, or how the articles connect to your own experience in some way. Please write a few sentences to a paragraph on each article. You can start a "new post" when submitting your response. You can click "new post" when submitting your response.
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