Coplin's idea that our school system's primary purpose is to deceive students is not true. Many students who graduate from the top schools do receive great jobs, and some don’t, and others with minimal education turned out OK. For example, Steve Jobs CEO and founder of Apple was a college dropout. In other words, having an education does not guarantee success, nor does it guarantee failure.
Marshall Gregory, a liberal educator argued students should not only be worried about getting a job but acquiring a liberal education is most important. Referring back to Coplin's idea that education has literally gone down the drain, Gregory speaks from a different point that students need the required liberal studies to be well-rounded individuals (in order to be successful.) "Liberal education represents the last and best--but least understood and least appreciated--mechanism for achieving the fullest development of human potential," Gregory declared. It's obvious that liberal education may not guarantee immediate skills towards a successful career, but Gregory is implying that without it students would not be able to develop into their full potential. After all, the purpose of education is to provide various windows of opportunities for students to explore. Without liberal education, students would be confined from the truth and held from higher intellectual achievements.
Nevertheless, there are many students out there that have been successful because of the guidance and offering that these courses have taught. True, that it may not cater to the specific job requirements that some businesses are looking for, but it is impossible for a school to provide curriculums that is specific to each student. That's why schools often provide workshops that are dedicated to various job industries for students to hone in on certain skills. Skills such as preparation and interviewing techniques are one of the most important to acquire. These courses are not part of liberal studies, but is essential to students who wants to well prepare themselves for real-life scenarios.
Surely we can agree that education is an opportunity that open doors to success, but it doesn't necessarily mean that it will always work out that way. Often times, students find themselves graduating without the knowledge or education required to compete for their dream job. Partly, it is because students fail to utilize all of the school's tools to be successful. The students may have missed out on career day, disregard the help of career development officers, or failed to interact with other colleagues and professors to expand their network. The most important aspect of school is the community and the programs that it offers to the students. Without it, even the best liberal education and thousands of dollars spent to attend private school would be pointless.
The success stories you often hear lies with the students' interpretation of college education--what they made of it during their time there, and not what they learned. Blanche Blank mentioned that the education system has been tainted because of the wide spread notion that without education there is little job opportunity. This may hold true in some aspects, but in reality, the education is worth nothing without the students understanding and drive to succeed. This is similar to what Shannon French said when she talked about how soldiers can only confront themselves if they are to cross paths with good and evil. French says that it is up to the individual to gain redemption if he is to become murderous, that he must not learn to excuse his actions but to recognize them if he wants to restore his sense of honor.