One of Thomas Sowell’s points, that college education is being watered down because too many people are obtaining it, is a fine one. He notes that “education is not a Good Thing categorically in unlimited amounts, for people of all levels of ability, interest, and willingness to work.” This is one reason why k-12’s current “college or nothing” structure is a failure, and why so many 16-, 17-, and 18-year-olds who are not willing to work toward college, and who have no other educational routes open to them, drop out of high school. (It’s not popular to say, but common sense helps us realize that if the almost-adult student likes fixing cars and hates poetry, one does him no service through repeated floggings of Marlowe.)    

Sowell writes:

Those who are not serious—which includes a remarkably large number of students, even at good colleges—would have to back off and go face the realities of the adult world in the job market. But not as many jobs would be able to require college degrees if such degrees were no longer so readily available at someone else’s expense.

His last sentence is a wounded antelope for the China-and-India crowd, which will instinctively pounce. They reflexively remind us that Americans compete not only with themselves but with (you know) the college-educated Chinese, Indians, Brazilians, Malagasy. Partly true, as always. But that U.S. education credentials are worth less each year is undeniable—and employers know it. As we push unqualified people into college, college degrees lose value. Today, having a B.A. is better than not having a B.A., but it won’t turn anyone’s head. In 20 years, one foresees the education Pooh-Bahs kvetching that too many low-income students lack three Master’s degrees. K-12 education is dismal as ever, yet universities are packed. What does that tell us?