In the article “The Undergraduate American” the authors address the very significant problem which has been arisen in the area of American educational system. The problem can be briefly described as a dangerous level of underproduction of college-going workers in the United States which constantly raises the level of income inequality. This inequality, in turn, is the basis for more serious economical and social problems in the society. Consequently, adequate and well-organized arrangements are to take place in order to solve the problem or at least to decline its level.
The article begins relating the problem from the view point of history and statistics. In accordance to historical and statistical data, since 1980 college-going workers have been significantly underproduced in the United States (Carnevale 2007). However, the demand for educated workers kept on growing which led to a serious problem of inequality in the levels of outcomes. This dangerous tendency is ever more growing during the present period of time. Just so, in 1980s the percentage difference between the level of college-educated workers and those without education was 40 % larger, from 1980s to 2010s it was 74 % larger and by 2025 it is expected to become 96 percent larger(Carnevale 2007). Thus, in case this tendency in the area of education will continue in the same direction the situation will only become more and more complicated.
Such unfavorable and disappointing forecast is a sure reason to work over the settlement of this income inequality problem. In case the situation will continue to develop in its usual flow the consequences may be irreversible both for the economy of the country, and for its social and political balance (Gray 1998). Thus, the authors of the article argue that this is high time nowadays to start making active arrangements in order to liquidate the gap between the level of educated workers required and that one actually existing.
The article offers a very simple and logical solution for this serious problem; which, however, appears to be highly labor-consuming and cost-based one: adding “20 million postsecondary-educated workers to the workforce” will help to decline income inequality (Carnevale 2007). The article explains that such adding to the workforce is not impossible during the next fifteen years. It also offers practical mechanisms which can be successfully applied in order to achieve serious improvement in solving this problem. Additionally, there exist numerous reasons to do so which may certainly add motivation to every person participating in this project. Among such reasons is the improvement of efficiency level in the national economy, and significant stabilization of inequality level in citizens’ incomes (Carnevale 2007).
Relating the information from this article back to my chosen topic which is concentrated around the need of befitting education for working people, I would say that the article makes a strong emphasis on all the economical and social reasons of solving this problem. Secondly, the article examines specific statistic and historical data proving the actuality of the problem under consideration. These data provide evidence that in case there will happen no interference into the current condition in educational system for workers the problem of income inequality will only get worse and this process will speed up constantly. This, in turn, will lead to a whole bunch of political, economical and social problems including crime, poverty, and unhealthy economy. On the contrary, if the problem is solved, positive outcomes of such achievement will be abundant. Among such important results are enhancing of standard of living, increasing of level of financially secure citizens, qualitative change in society’s social building, more possibilities in any area of social, economical and political life and so on. It is also significant that such changes in the system of education of workers will provide a ground for the improvement of life for generations to come. Psychological research provided in the article suggests that it is necessary to help potential students to understand how they personally and the society, in general, may benefit from additional education. All in all, the article provides a significant ground to believe that nowadays it is high time to accomplish serious changes in the system of education for workers in order to decrease income inequality.
As a final point, it should be stated that the article under consideration gives a considerable basis to think about the reasons for making improvements in the area of college education provision for workers. The primary purpose of this article seems to inform the readers about the necessity to undertake active measures in order to solve serious economical and social problems which are connected to underproduction of college-educated workers. It explains practically how to make improvements today and in the future. From this article it is evident that adequate and well-organized arranged are to take place in order to solve the problem or at least to decline its level. Reading about it has also gotten me into thinking over the serious economical and social problems in the society caused by underproduction of educated workers.
References
Carnevale, A. & Rose, S. (2007). The Undereducated American. Washington, DC: Center of Education and the Workforce.
Gray, K.C. & Herr, E.L. (1998). Workforce education: The basics. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Print.