Many people will often describe education as the ultimate key to success. But what does success entail? Success can come from various things: jobs, relationships, education, family, and other things that when combined creates a well-rounded individual.

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Education is Based on the Individual

        Many people will often describe education as the ultimate key to success.  But what does success entail? Success can come from various things: jobs, relationships, education, family, and other things that when combined creates a well-rounded individual.  It does not mean a liberal education is the only ingredient to success--nor does it mean that it does not help.  A student can pay tens and thousands of dollars a year on tuition, but for what reason?  The purpose of school is to provide students with the necessary education to be successful and serve as a guidance to help students figure out who they want to be.  However, how well the students interpret this education is entirely up to them.

        Coplin described the educational system as a "bait and switch" scheme.  An example would be a customer coming in for a sales item on the newspaper ad and later being diverted to a different product at a more expensive cost.  Coplin's idea stated that students are often mislead to believe that by paying for higher education would result in higher pay.  His anger is reasonable, considering that some students with Ph.D. are now flipping burgers and paying off their incomprehensible student loan debts for the next forty years.  "According to employers, college students are not prepared for the work force because they lack the skills and character needed to succeed," Coplin said.  He gave another example of how a mathematical wiz who scored A's on exams was unable to put together a bar graph to reflect real-world information.  

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        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 ...

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