Mike Rowe destroyed a reader who accused of him of belittling the benefits of college, saying higher education is indeed “under attack” but it’s not from him.
The comments came in response to a reader who questioned if Rowe’s intent was to make those who “choose college to feel ashamed, lazy and brainwashed” and said that he is “supplying more ammunition to those attacking” higher education after he posted an article that “dared to question the wisdom of a four-year degree.”
Mike Rowe (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)
“You’re right – our countries educational system is indeed under attack. But the attack is from within, and the wounds are self-inflicted,” Rowe explained in his post Friday on Facebook. “The hypocrisy in our educational system is rank, the bias undeniable, the disrespect for our flag ubiquitous, and the entire ‘safe space’ mentality the exact opposite of what life is like in the real world.”
“Higher education has created its own PR nightmare,” he added. “Is it any wonder parents are trying to figure out if their kids should be sent into such a lopsided environment? Is it any wonder reasonable people are beginning to question the value of a four-year degree?”
“Tuition has increased at two and half times the rate of inflation. Nothing else this important has ever done that. Not real estate, energy, food, even healthcare,” he continued. “The question is why? Is the quality of education two and half times better than it was thirty years ago? No way. Are universities turning out more graduates? Hardly. Fifty percent of those who enroll don’t even graduate. Do people have more disposable income today than they used to? Of course not.”
“No, universities have been able to raise their prices partly because too many parents believe that anything less than a four-year degree will doom their kid to a less productive existence, and partly because we’ve pressured millions of kids to borrow whatever it takes from a bottomless pool of unlimited money that doesn’t really exist,” Rowe shared. “To answer your question, Dawn, no–my intent is not to make those who choose college feel ‘ashamed, lazy or brainwashed.’ My intent is to remind people that a university is not the only place to enrich your mind or prepare yourself for the real world. Nor is it necessarily the best place. It’s merely the most expensive.”
He also pointed out that the University of Utah just installed a “Cry Closet” for students who are stressed out over finals and that Fresno State professor Randa Jarrar was able to call the late Barbara Bush a “witch and a racist the same day she died, then bragged to the world that her tenured position meant that she could speak without fear or consequence.”