Charles Murray and "Real Education"

Charles Murray is the author of one of the most debated books on social policy, The Bell Curve. In his latest book, Real Education, he, again, does not shy away from controversial topics as he writes that "too many people are going to college." What does he mean?

Murray believes that we, as a country, are taking the easy path by pushing everyone towards college when in reality many of our students may be more suited toward a technical vocation. He highlights the main misconception we sell kids... go to college and all your dreams will come true. When the reality is that many of our students will crash and burn in a college setting. But, Murray does not just make a general point here, he provides statistics to back up his case.

"Purely on the basis of intellectual qualifications, the number of freshman in four-year institutions is roughly 1.8 times the appropriate number if we use the top 20 percent academic ability as the right cut off and 2.1 times the appropriate number if 15 percent is the right cutoff." Here he is using the percentiles of the standard SAT test. If we say that kids who score in the 80th percentile or 85th percentile on the SAT belong in college, according to Murray, there are more kids in college than statistically possible, with all things being normal.

So, what is his answer?

"In summary: Saying "too many people are going to college" is not the same as saying that the average student does not need to know about history, science and the great works of art, music and literature. They do need to know - and to know more than they are currently learning. So let's teach it to them, but let's not wait for college to do it."

Murray's main point is this: our brightest kids need our attention as they are our future leaders, and they belong in college. When we flood colleges with every kid and make college the norm we water down college and our brightest do not receive the training they need in order to lead, invent and create. He shares evidence that even our best colleges no longer educate properly as the true liberal arts curriculum is a thing of the past.

Is he right? He makes some valid points and backs them with analysis. The book is worth a read as it takes a very different look at education. It will make you think! Blessings!