Nothing, except that it simply doesn't mesh with the American Reality. That wouldn't matter much one way or another, except that policy-makers and bureaucrats make decisions every day based on some false assumptions regarding this sought-after dream.

The dream that most Americans hold dearly is that every child will attend a traditional, four-year college and graduate with a baccalaureate degree. Actually, there is nothing inherently wrong with that.

We all aspire - or should - to be "all that you can be," as the U.S. Army's ads so cleverly said. But when we make plans and allocate resources based on the assumption that this dream will come true, we do a major disservice to the public, to parents, and most of all to young people who are led to believe that the world is waiting for every college graduate. So, what is the real story - the whole story - about the American Dream?

How many people actually achieve this educational level? What should policymakers know about the realities of collegiate success and job availability? Is this a reasonable and appropriate goal to promote to today's young people?

In order to appreciate the whole story, it is essential to examine several significant factors in combination:

  • high school graduation rates,
  • traditional four-year entrance and graduation rates, as well as,
  • entry-level requirements in the job market.

According to the National Center for Higher Education Systems* the high school graduation rate in Texas is approximately 62 percent. (Ninth graders who graduate four years later). Of those, approximately 32 percent immediately enroll in college. NCHEMS estimates that the number of students graduating from a four-year public institution in Texas with a baccalaureate degree is 11 percent - after six years!

To fully appreciate the real impact of these percentages, the figures must now be translated into meaningful numbers. Here is what these percentages represent:

Of every 1,000 high school students in Texas, 62 percent graduate, which equals 620;
Of those who graduate from high school, 32 percent enroll in a traditional, four-year institution, which equals 198;

Of those who enroll in a public university, 11 percent graduate after six years, or about 22!

So, of every 1,000 high school seniors in Texas, only 22 can expect to graduate from a public university and achieve the so-called American Dream!

What do you suppose the other 978 high school graduates do?

Then there is the job market, which tells us two things:

(1) According to the U.S. Department of Labor, most of the new jobs won't require a traditional
four-year degree, but, rather some technical training beyond high school; and,

(2) Most of these jobs won't be created by the Fortune 500 companies but by small businesses that don't have training departments. That is important because it means that prospective employees must come to work properly prepared with the right skills and competencies, ready to go to work without much additional training. What this adds up to is the fact that we are misrepresenting the realities of the workplace in our inaccurate concept of the American Dream.

What we must do is to encourage the policy-makers to look at the whole story before making decisions that might jeopardize the educational and employment opportunities of the majority of our citizens - those who don't graduate from a traditional four-year college. Students in high school should learn to appreciate the concept of work. Yes, it is a four-letter word but not a dirty one!

These students should be given an understanding of the real world of work. They must recognize that while people should aspire to be all that they can be, our society needs people to do all kinds of jobs - and most of these jobs do not require a traditional four-year college degree.

We must strive to give dignity to work. We must realize that it is alright and indeed appropriate to be satisfied and comfortable doing what it is we are happy doing. The realities of the marketplace are that there are more people "doing rather than leading." Each company has only one president; but it has many employees, doing a variety of jobs. Not everybody can be, nor should be "the boss."

We must commend those who work, who pay their taxes, vote, and, who are responsible citizens. All of our citizens deserve an educational system that gives equal weight to the American Dream, as well as the American Reality. Preparing people for the world of work - especially those who do not pursue a baccalaureate degree - is a wise investment - one that will repay the student and society many times over.

Can we really afford to do less?

The next time a parent tells you of their plans to send his/her son or daughter to the university, ask what the youngster plans to learn to earn a living upon graduation.

The next time someone tells you about the American Dream, tell him/her the whole story of the American Reality. You just might help someone to make a better educational decision.