阅读理解

TheU．S．DepartmentofLaborstatistics(统计)showthatthereisanoversupplyofcollege-trainedworkersandthatthisoversupplyisincreasing．Alreadytherehavebeenmorethanenoughteachersengineersphysicistsaerospaceexpertsandotherspecialists．Yetcollegesandgraduateschoolscontinueeveryyeartoturnouthighlytrainedpeopletocompeteforjobsthataren’tthere．Theresultisthatgraduatescannotentertheprofessionsforwhichtheyweretrainedandmusttaketemporaryjobswhichdonotrequireacollegedegree．

Ontheotherhandthereisagreatneedforskilledworkersofallsorts：carpenterselectriciansmechanicsplumbersTVrepairmen．

Thesepeoplehavemoreworkthantheycandealwithandtheirannualincomesareoftenhigherthanthoseofcollegegraduates．Theoldgapthatwhite-collarworkersmakeabetterlivingthanblue-collarworkersnolongerholdstrue．Thelawofsupplyanddemandnowfavorstheskilledworkmen．

Thereasonforthissituationisthetraditionalmyththatcollegedegreeisapassporttoaprosperousfuture．AlargepartofAmericansocietymatchessuccessinlifeequallywithacollegedegree．Parentsbeginindoctrinating(灌输)theirchildrenwiththismythbeforetheyareoutofgradeschool．Highschoolteachersplaytheirpartbyactingasifhighschooleducationwereapreparationforcollegeratherthanforlife．Underthispressurethekidsfallinline．Whethertheywanttogotocollegeornotdoesn’tmatter．

Everybodyshouldgotocollegesoofcoursetheymustgo．Andeveryyearcollegeenrollments(入学)goupandupandmoreandmoregraduatesareovereducatedforthekindsofjobsavailabletothem．

Oneresultofthisemphasisonacollegeeducationisthatmanypeoplegotocollegewhodonotbelongthere．Ofthesixtypercentofhighschoolgraduateswhoentercollegehalfofthemdonotgraduatewiththeirclass．Manyofthemdropoutwithinthefirstyear．Somestruggleonfortwoorthreeyearsandthengiveup．