A sleepy day--and a random thought about higher educatioin

 

Today, close to noon, I foundmyself dozing off over my computer. I’ve been known to do that in the evening,a signal that I should take a little nap—or else give it up and go to sleep.But in the middle of the day? I figured out what it was. All those loose threadsthat have haunted me all week have tied themselves off into neat little knots—myworry over arrangements for Christmas Eve guests, the lost check for a co-pay,even my iStock dilemma is nicely solved. And the plumber was here this morning,quickly fixed the leak with the tiniest of new washers, and it didn’t costnearly as much as I had feared. The gods are smiling on me, and I’m grateful.

I toughed it out until aboutone-thirty and then slept a solid two hours. It must be all the talk Jordan andI have done about food and menus and grocery lists, but I dreamt I was eatingthe most sumptuous, huge meal—lamb chops and salads and pate, all the things Ilove. I woke up full.

So, I’m feeling fairly readyfor Christmas. And I’m feeling optimistic about the national scene, ever since theColorado Supreme Court declared trump ineligible to be on the ballot. Buthigher education is on my mind tonight. I’ve read several articles thatquestion the value of a college education. Some point out that the importance ofhaving skilled craftsmen—plumbers, electricians, carpenters, etc.—is overlooked,and young people should be encouraged to consider trade schools. I’m all forthat. College is not for everyone, and we need those skilled people. Especiallytoday when I’m so grateful for the plumber, who by the by, had an apprenticewith him. Made me curious about how plumbers are educated—by apprenticeship,classes, or both?

But an article this morningsuggested that employers are dissatisfied with the quality of college graduatesthese days and perhaps a college degree is not worth the high cost, since itcan throw graduates and their families into a long downward spiral of debt.Some of the stories of people still paying in their sixties are horrifying. We’veseen President Biden try to release families from that burden so that they canbe productive members of society, rather than held back by financial distress.But that has met conservative opposition.

It’s a given that Republicans wantto dumb down America, because an uneducated populace is easier to manage, topersuade with propaganda and distortion. We see it in Texas particularly in themove to approve school vouchers, and thereby weaken public education, which hasfailed, so far—praise be! We see it nationally in restrictions on teachers andwhat they can teach, particularly what they can say about history. They areoften required to teach our history as seen through rose-colored glasses. Andwe see it in book banning.

Now we’re seeing a move toquestion college education. I wonder if this questioning of higher education isnot part of that whole campaign. Granted, some college costs are exorbitantthese days, but college is where people learn critical thinking. It’s not somuch that college prepares you for a career—really, how many of us have acareer related to our college major? But it’s that college classes teach you tothink. An educated populace, especially one that knows history, is not aslikely to fall for the blandishments of a demagogue.

Just a random thought forChristmas week when my mind should be on the meaning of Christmas, the why andwherefore of how we celebrate, the blessing of families gathering, and the foodwhich binds us in thankfulness and companionship.

It’s not late, but I can feelsleepiness creeping up on me again, so I’ll sign off. Tomorrow, I think ‘llblog about black-eyed peas, a much more seasonal topic.