"The absence of alternatives clears the mind marvelously." - Henry Kissinger

What can I say?

Also in the "nothing to say" dept., watch

this.

Spent the better part of the day working on the trailer. Coming together nicely. When I initially looked at this guy's instructions and read the first dozen or so pages (153 total) they looked exceedingly obtuse. They're written in narrative with pictures and very few diagrams. 

"Next take one of the scabs you cut and place it along the side wall, resting on the spacer at exactly 18" from the floor and ...."

But I've discovered that in the actual construction each step makes sense based on what preceded it. Just trust the guy and do what he's written in order, and what looked totally confusing when you read ahead will suddenly make perfect sense. 

By George, I think there's a sermon illustration in there someplace!

One step at a time. Don't sweat what's coming; it'll work when you get there. 

Is this not the perfect thing to pull a throw-back teardrop? It's on my watch list.

The people are the best part.

(cont'd from previous posts)

Let's set aside the institution for now and chat for a bit about the student.

Why go to college? Lots of possible reasons, including but not limited to the following:

1. Get out from under clueless and confining parents, hang with other kids, and do it all on my folks' tab.
2. Get a degree, any degree, which everyone says is essential to making a lot of money. OK, at least more money than can be made w/o the degree.
3. Do what my parents expect of me.
4. Get the specific degree required to enter my chosen field.
5. Stay out of the Vietnam war (no longer relevant but full disclosure req'd I include it).
6. Find a really handsome and multi-talented husband who will be everything you ever dreamed of in a man (hey, it worked for Pam). 
7. Get an education (not the same as any of the above and the rarest of all motivations). 

If the motivation is #1 or 3 value isn't so important. The college or university may be ripping you off but it's not about the money. Any price is worth paying, especially if your parents are paying for it.

If it's #6, well, you can't put a price tag on that outcome, so who cares what it costs??

It seems the rest of those seven, students and parents, would want the best value for their tuition dollars. And there will be lots of those dollars, most probably lasting well past graduation - should that ever happen - in the form of student loans. 

That's why students and parents should know what goes on behind the curtain, understand that no matter what the institutions say, things like FTE and keeping the accrediting agency happy are critical to the bottom line, and the bottom line is determinative. There are undoubtedly exceptions, but I'm fairly sure the vast majority of higher ed institutions care about education and serving their students. However, it would be naive at best, yea, foolish, to think all their motivations and everything they do is altruistic. It is, for them, a matter of balancing what they want to do and what they must do.

OK, maybe I'm being a little naive with that one. Methinks the bigger the institution the less likely they are to care about the student and the more likely they are to focus on the bottom line. Economies of scale, mega-corporations, and the like. In the undergrad program at a major university it would probably be tough to find a faculty member who knows any student by name. But even at very small colleges a discerning student and his/her parents should ask pointed questions - of the institution and themselves. 

Due diligence.

(to be cont'd)