I went to a public university in the 1979s. I earned enough at a summer factory job to pay the $900 annual tuition, and my parents paid room and board. At that time the state funded higher education, considering it a public good.
Then the economy shifted, and Reagan was President. States pulled back on funding for public education. You can Google and find stats showing state subsidies for higher ed dropped from around 75% of the cost to around 25%.
So I was the last generation that could go to college from a middle or working class family and end up with no debt or with reasonable debt. The last.
I majored in English simply because it was what I loved. It was at that time considered a good (tho not profitable) background for a wide range of jobs. It showed you were well rounded, could communicate well, understood people well, and could write effectively and also analyze things well.
No regrets. My English degree leveraged me into a technical career (before that required specific tech training - holy cow was my timing lucky) because I could understand process and structure and I could write (computer manuals etc).
All my good fortune was a gift of timing, slipping between the tectonic plates of a shifting economy.
As state subsidies for higher education fell away and colleges struggled, so did all the economic prosperity around them struggle - often the entire economy of a town fell apart as academic jobs disappeared and restaurants and gas stations and local shops felt the impact.
It became a vicious downward spiral.
Maybe subsidies for two-year colleges and vocational training might help reserve this trend. I think it will no longer come from the state level, so perhaps federal?
The kids in our family, one and two generations down from me, have not all gone to college. They can’t afford it and don’t want the debt. A few, where families can support it, have gone to college.
I can see the result of this in terms of who (of these folks in my family) has a broad, informed outlook on life and who has a more insular view, depending only on immediate social circles for world outlook and information. You can see where this has taken us …
This is a good description of the aims of the English Major as I know it: "It showed you were well rounded, could communicate well, understood people well, and could write effectively and also analyze things well."
I believe you: "So I was the last generation that could go to college from a middle or working class family and end up with no debt or with reasonable debt. The last."
Hey Mark, I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I deeply value what I've learned as an English major. I think it has enriched me personally and even professionally in many ways. However, I don't think it was financially worth it to get the degree. Part of the reason I never got an MFA was because I knew it would be super fulfilling, but financially ill-advised. What I've been thinking is that A. We need to restructure our economy in big ways (duh) so that people get paid for things that are valuable to humanity without being directly, visibly valuable economically. But until that happens, or while it is happening, I would advise more humanities teachers to teach outside of academia. In the case of poetry, I would rather pay a poet directly for their classes than pay a university system. I'd learn the same, and frankly probably earn the same with the knowledge, but spend far less, and the money would go to the teachers instead of to the beurocrats. Ten years ago I worked with Kim Addonizio, taking workshops out of her apartment in Oakland. I was there with others who had MFAs and they said that they learned more from her than they did in their MFA programs. Kim, one evening, said that teaching us, her private clients, is what allowed her to be an artist instead of an academic. I think that says a lot. Let's have more direct payments to the artists outside of academia. That's one small way to right this sinking ship. A tiny little plug, but maybe it's a start.
I almost applied for an MFA 4-5 times. By almost applied, I mean did the research and considered moving forward... I only applied once, 2018-2019, to two schools (both fully funded programs) and I was rejected by both.
Agreed about teaching outside of academia though with some parameters. I will say that I think I would personally benefit from having a bit of traditional pedagogy training and IRL classroom experience.
I have many thoughts, but that would turn into another essay :P
Thoughtful essay. I would love to see the community college system strengthened. I couldn't hace gone to college without it. The best teachers I ever--including through grad school were at the community college.
Hindsight is 20/20, right? I would have been wise to have spent my first 2 years at a community college and then decided what to do next. It was not a good use of funds (in my case) at a 4-year institution.
I've heard so many positive experiences from those who attended community college. Notably, many tell me that they had terrific English professors at their community college. I would love to be that professor that people look back on glowingly. Thing is, nowadays, seems like most community colleges want someone who has a PhD in order to teach. A real double-standard / catch-22 as these positions are typically low paying and lack stability.
It's somewhat embarrassing to admit... but I chose the less intimidating path... I had the opportunity to attend The New School's Eugene Lang... but I was, frankly, scared to navigate NYC alone.
Rick Moody was teaching at Eugene Lang... and I wanted to study with him. I was also very intimidated by the reading and writing load they told me to expect when I went for a post-acceptance tour.
I certainly would have been intimidated at 17. I used to mourn a bit the things I missed. Not anymore. I am grateful for my path now. Grateful that I can do the work I that gives me great joy.
Thoughtful - thank you.
I went to a public university in the 1979s. I earned enough at a summer factory job to pay the $900 annual tuition, and my parents paid room and board. At that time the state funded higher education, considering it a public good.
Then the economy shifted, and Reagan was President. States pulled back on funding for public education. You can Google and find stats showing state subsidies for higher ed dropped from around 75% of the cost to around 25%.
So I was the last generation that could go to college from a middle or working class family and end up with no debt or with reasonable debt. The last.
I majored in English simply because it was what I loved. It was at that time considered a good (tho not profitable) background for a wide range of jobs. It showed you were well rounded, could communicate well, understood people well, and could write effectively and also analyze things well.
No regrets. My English degree leveraged me into a technical career (before that required specific tech training - holy cow was my timing lucky) because I could understand process and structure and I could write (computer manuals etc).
All my good fortune was a gift of timing, slipping between the tectonic plates of a shifting economy.
As state subsidies for higher education fell away and colleges struggled, so did all the economic prosperity around them struggle - often the entire economy of a town fell apart as academic jobs disappeared and restaurants and gas stations and local shops felt the impact.
It became a vicious downward spiral.
Maybe subsidies for two-year colleges and vocational training might help reserve this trend. I think it will no longer come from the state level, so perhaps federal?
The kids in our family, one and two generations down from me, have not all gone to college. They can’t afford it and don’t want the debt. A few, where families can support it, have gone to college.
I can see the result of this in terms of who (of these folks in my family) has a broad, informed outlook on life and who has a more insular view, depending only on immediate social circles for world outlook and information. You can see where this has taken us …
Thank you for sharing your personal account. Lots to reflect on. I hope others read your stance and reflect.
This is a good description of the aims of the English Major as I know it: "It showed you were well rounded, could communicate well, understood people well, and could write effectively and also analyze things well."
I believe you: "So I was the last generation that could go to college from a middle or working class family and end up with no debt or with reasonable debt. The last."
A very interesting and profound read!
Thank you so much, Dawn. Glad this hit home with you.
Hey Mark, I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I deeply value what I've learned as an English major. I think it has enriched me personally and even professionally in many ways. However, I don't think it was financially worth it to get the degree. Part of the reason I never got an MFA was because I knew it would be super fulfilling, but financially ill-advised. What I've been thinking is that A. We need to restructure our economy in big ways (duh) so that people get paid for things that are valuable to humanity without being directly, visibly valuable economically. But until that happens, or while it is happening, I would advise more humanities teachers to teach outside of academia. In the case of poetry, I would rather pay a poet directly for their classes than pay a university system. I'd learn the same, and frankly probably earn the same with the knowledge, but spend far less, and the money would go to the teachers instead of to the beurocrats. Ten years ago I worked with Kim Addonizio, taking workshops out of her apartment in Oakland. I was there with others who had MFAs and they said that they learned more from her than they did in their MFA programs. Kim, one evening, said that teaching us, her private clients, is what allowed her to be an artist instead of an academic. I think that says a lot. Let's have more direct payments to the artists outside of academia. That's one small way to right this sinking ship. A tiny little plug, but maybe it's a start.
Same team.
I hope everyone reads what you shared!
I almost applied for an MFA 4-5 times. By almost applied, I mean did the research and considered moving forward... I only applied once, 2018-2019, to two schools (both fully funded programs) and I was rejected by both.
Agreed about teaching outside of academia though with some parameters. I will say that I think I would personally benefit from having a bit of traditional pedagogy training and IRL classroom experience.
I have many thoughts, but that would turn into another essay :P
Thoughtful essay. I would love to see the community college system strengthened. I couldn't hace gone to college without it. The best teachers I ever--including through grad school were at the community college.
Yes! Thank you for this, Donna!
Hindsight is 20/20, right? I would have been wise to have spent my first 2 years at a community college and then decided what to do next. It was not a good use of funds (in my case) at a 4-year institution.
I've heard so many positive experiences from those who attended community college. Notably, many tell me that they had terrific English professors at their community college. I would love to be that professor that people look back on glowingly. Thing is, nowadays, seems like most community colleges want someone who has a PhD in order to teach. A real double-standard / catch-22 as these positions are typically low paying and lack stability.
Economically, it just makes more sense. Many kids are not yet ready to leave home, even if money is not an issue.
That's a good point, Donna.
It's somewhat embarrassing to admit... but I chose the less intimidating path... I had the opportunity to attend The New School's Eugene Lang... but I was, frankly, scared to navigate NYC alone.
Rick Moody was teaching at Eugene Lang... and I wanted to study with him. I was also very intimidated by the reading and writing load they told me to expect when I went for a post-acceptance tour.
I certainly would have been intimidated at 17. I used to mourn a bit the things I missed. Not anymore. I am grateful for my path now. Grateful that I can do the work I that gives me great joy.