TEACHSOC: Re: Fw: TEACHSOC: need advice

[Robert Hironimus-Wendt]

Perhaps the problem is one of focus?   Most of the malaise we are expressing is associated with a micro-level of analysis… For example, “You mean I am not guaranteed high wealth, status, and prestige simply by getting a high level of education (actually, close to normative level, today)?”   From a macro level of analysis, the evidence clearly indicate that education (measured in credentials) has on average a huge and predictable payoff. Those aged 18 – 25 without credentials do very, very poorly. Those with BA/BS degrees do much, much better than those without credentials.   In the historical sense, credentials still matter in the context that they tend to “on average” prevent poverty at the group level. And higher education is still strongly associated with other attributes of social class beyond income (e.g., status and prestige, power, etc.). However, our society has become much more consumer oriented, and the shear volume of products we can consume has increased astronomically compared to the past. So if we find that a bachelor’s (don’t you hate that word) degree no longer guarantees what it did in the past, we are silly to be thinking it should. It still guarantees “on average” the avoidance of marginal life styles and marginal income jobs. However, our patterns of consumption play an enormous role in our life chances and life styles today, that in the past, they did not.   Peace to all   Robert      Robert J. Hironimus-Wendt, Ph.D. Sociology and Anthropology Western Illinois University 1 University Circle Macomb, IL 61455-1390 phone: (309) 298-1081 fax: (309) 298-1857 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]   "It doesn't matter how strong your opinions are. If   you don't use your power for positive change, you   are indeed part of the problem, helping to keep   things the way they are."     -Coretta Scott King --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Teaching Sociology" group. To post to this group, send email to teachsoc@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/teachsoc -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---