03-12-2003, 05:55 PM
. . . depends on the length of your yardstick
Hi,
There was a test that was available at least to the US military that tested the grade level equivalence of one's knowledge. The test was in multiple parts, each with a fairly long time allotment. It was strictly "fact based", with no aptitude portion. If I'm vague, it is because all this is from my memories from '65.
Anyway, I had some free time and I took that test. My background, then, was one incomplete quarter at GA Tech. The result of the test was second year master's student. I'd say the yardstick for educational levels was pretty short even back then.
The need for a bar exam and for board certification is driven by the inconsistency in the level of education among different institutions. Thus, the professional societies or the lawmakers try to ensure that there is at least some minimum level of common competence. Most states have a professional engineer (PE) exam that is required before one can sign off on engineering projects. Again, the same thing.
Even if one completely eliminates the out and out frauds ("Get your college degree for only $1500 online"), there is still the problem of all the trade schools that are giving a degree for what is basically job training. And there is the problem that, at most universities, it is possible to get a degree with little work past what should be required for a high school diploma.
Partially the fault lies with the funding methods. As long as the funding for most schools is based on the number of students rather than the quality of graduates, the situation will continue to get worse. Partially the problem lies with the lack of universal (and rigorous) standards. I still remember my outrage when I heard reported on the radio that some huge percentage of the Chicago high school graduating class could only read at the 8th grade level. My reply, "Then how the **** did they ever get into 9th grade!"
So, the number of people sporting a college degree has, as far as I'm concerned, only one effect -- it makes the college degree join the high school diploma in the dustbin of useless documents.
--Pete
Hi,
There was a test that was available at least to the US military that tested the grade level equivalence of one's knowledge. The test was in multiple parts, each with a fairly long time allotment. It was strictly "fact based", with no aptitude portion. If I'm vague, it is because all this is from my memories from '65.
Anyway, I had some free time and I took that test. My background, then, was one incomplete quarter at GA Tech. The result of the test was second year master's student. I'd say the yardstick for educational levels was pretty short even back then.
The need for a bar exam and for board certification is driven by the inconsistency in the level of education among different institutions. Thus, the professional societies or the lawmakers try to ensure that there is at least some minimum level of common competence. Most states have a professional engineer (PE) exam that is required before one can sign off on engineering projects. Again, the same thing.
Even if one completely eliminates the out and out frauds ("Get your college degree for only $1500 online"), there is still the problem of all the trade schools that are giving a degree for what is basically job training. And there is the problem that, at most universities, it is possible to get a degree with little work past what should be required for a high school diploma.
Partially the fault lies with the funding methods. As long as the funding for most schools is based on the number of students rather than the quality of graduates, the situation will continue to get worse. Partially the problem lies with the lack of universal (and rigorous) standards. I still remember my outrage when I heard reported on the radio that some huge percentage of the Chicago high school graduating class could only read at the 8th grade level. My reply, "Then how the **** did they ever get into 9th grade!"
So, the number of people sporting a college degree has, as far as I'm concerned, only one effect -- it makes the college degree join the high school diploma in the dustbin of useless documents.
--Pete
How big was the aquarium in Noah's ark?