I think the my reaction focuses mainly on these comments:
"The beauty of this power emerges not merely from customer
convenience, however. It offers better quality instruction as well.
. . .
"The market will determine the best courses to offer, and the economics
of scale will afford even greater savings.
. . .
"In the global economy, however, customers see higher education as
training and credentialing to secure jobs that provide better
remuneration."
By "better quality" Margolis seems to mean, "turns a higher profit." That
seems to be the business definition of quality and many of Margolis' own
comments echo that definition.
So, the courses that draw crowds, regardless of the education they provide,
will be the better courses. Ah, but won't students look for an education,
so they can qualify for those good jobs?
We are back to business definitions again. Business would rather lease
than buy. They want an employee while that employee is cheap and
productive; when the cost goes up or productivity down, cancel the lease
and bring in the newer model.
That is, I expect businesses to hire people with very specific skills. So
students will go after those skills to get those jobs. So students will
soon be out of work again.
"Life-long learning" has been offered as a remedy. I do not oppose
life-long learning; I just think it's code for "life-long entry-level."
And when did education become job training anyway? Sure, it's nice -- even
vital -- to come out of school with a marketable skill. It's more
important to come out of school with a sense of one's own worth, a worth
not tied to market value. It's also important to come out with a sense of
values, values that cannot be written on price tag.
What happens to democracy when students are taught just what the market
place deems valuable?
". . . every major endeavor- with the possible exception of religion-
needs to be evaluated on a commercial basis."
The _possible_ exception of religion?
Raising a family is a commercial endeavor?
Tell me Margolis, what is the market value of your children? At what price
would you sell them, rather than hold the investment as a retirement
account?
What is the price of your soul?
Road's in front o' me,
Nothin' to do but walk.
Langston Hughes
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