The thing that I am most proud of in life is being a parent.  Sure, I love what I do, but I  love being a father a whole lot more.  I cannot tell you what joy that brings me to know that my kids would likely describe me as such - that’s a pretty good survey base!

So, from one parent to another, I wanted to share a little advice about our children's education.
I have sent all four of my kids to Catholic school. That meant paying property taxes to fund the public schools while I paid tuition to the private school on top of that and I did it with a smile because the education that they are provided with is something I appreciate and in my opinion, affords my children the best possible head start to college.

And speaking of college, I am beginning to wonder how smart it is for us to push our kids into college in the first place. It has been essentially expected that college graduates earn more, a lot more, over a lifetime than a high school graduate.  But I am starting to see studies that show the difference is not very much and when you combine other factors like job security and debt levels it may be time to rethink how we counsel our kids. Here's a thought; is raising your children to believe going to college is their only way to a great job actually true?  Let's examine the reality behind the dream, shall we?

For the last 50 years or so the American education system has gotten worse and worse.  This in spite of spending, even in inflation adjusted dollars, much more than we ever have.  This has driven about a sixth of parents (obviously, myself included) to send their children to private schools, a huge expense, on top of the oppressive property taxes they pay on their home to finance public schools they don't use. Then, after they have tapped themselves out on that or moved to better school districts with much higher property taxes which leads to the same net affect on family finances, they push their children into college to provide the gateway to a "better job".

And why is college necessary for that good job?  Because aptitude testing, a euphemism for IQ tests, has been all but phased out of the curriculum (although many European schools use aptitude tests as a “leaving certificate” for high school, rather than a “entrance exam” for acceptance to college). I am not here to argue the wisdom of this choice, but the curriculum has somewhat disarmed a means to determine the underlying intelligence of a would- be employee. Common practice has now made a college degree a requirement - on the assumption that if a person could complete a four year course or more of higher education successfully he or she is likely at least of average intelligence.

So now, especially when unemployment is high, we find ourselves in a new time, one of outsourcing and job loss.  What kinds of jobs are the most easily outsourced?  Clerks of various flavors head the list.  In my own company rather than add staff I regularly outsource.  Most smart employers do and many of those jobs head overseas.  I mean, what does a degree in business really mean or qualify a person for?  The truth? To be some sort of clerk/shift supervisor/assistant and therefore easily replaced.

An even more recent study on the subject put the 40 year earning difference at about $270,000.  That's only a little over $6000 per year and then if you add in things like huge student loans to the mix – it starts to cancel out some things. The fact is, that unless you are highly specialized - college for most people trains them to enter the work force as a mid-level employee of sorts, one is easily outsourced or replaced, and well…….typical, if not really common. This leads me to wonder - perhaps being a tradesman, like an electrician or plumber, which cannot be outsourced overseas and makes a great living might be a better place for most people. Not to mention the elimination of student loan burdens that have to be repaid and cannot be discharged even in bankruptcy.  It's just a thought.

So, before you push your kids into an expensive college education in the midst of a deep recession it might be a good idea to research your local junior college as a place to receive a strong technical education is something that is high paying and safe from foreign competition.  It would be a lot cheaper, and if you think about it, more effective in providing for your kids' long term future and happiness.  Anyway, it is something to think about!