Pushing Ambition

Spring                                           Awakening Moon

Some Latin sentences translated.  Met Ryan, whose going to cut our grass and manage some general lawn work under Kate’s tutelage.  Learned from Kate that all school after high school is college.  Ryan plans to go to a trade school to become an electrician or a lineman.  I’m glad.  We’ve pushed so many kids into college with that old, it takes a college degree to get ahead and look at the earning differences for college graduates.  In fact, college and graduate school has things to offer to only a small percentage of the population, far fewer than the number who attend.  Most of them would be happier and better served learning how to be electricians or lineman or mechanics or illustrators or chef’s or small business owners.

American society pushes ambition like a street dealer pushes smack or ecstasy.  And in practically the same terms.  It will make you high, happy, socially attractive, better off than you are now.  That ambition in turn pushes kids out of high school onto college campuses in ridiculously huge numbers.  Much better to have a society where the mark of a good education is a successful fit between student and education, student and job.

Again, dark.  Hope rain will fall.  Soon.  We need it.  I’m worn out.  Good night.