In just the past five years, the percentage of parents who believe they would be able to help their children pay for their college education dropped from about one in two (49%) to one in four (25%). Meanwhile, college seniors who graduated with student loans in 2010 owed an average of $25,250 (another study suggested $22,900). Kayla Webley goes on to report that "Last week, the total amount of outstanding student debt reached a grim milestone, topping $1 trillion for the first time in history, and last year the total amount of student loans taken out topped $100 billion, also a first. … [Read more...] about Parents Feel Less Able To Pay For College
The Trades Alternative
Good article in World magazine about the uptick in demand for skilled labor in fields like welding. The opening:The conventional wisdom says a 21-year-old should have a college degree to have the best shot at landing a job in a tough job market. But today's unemployment landscape is hardly conventional. It may be that your high-school classmate who tinkered in the garage and became a mechanic might have been on to something. Read the rest (may have to be a World subscriber -- something I highly recommend). … [Read more...] about The Trades Alternative
(Brief) Easter Catechism
Here are some question/responses that I wrote a few years ago, and that we've worked on mainly with our older daughter (now 6). I’m re-posting them in case others might find this a good springboard for your own catechizing. The answers are admittedly a bit short and simplistic, but I figure that (and the repetition) makes it easier for memorization and parents can build on the concepts later. Q: Who is Jesus? A: Jesus is God’s Son. Q: Why did Jesus come to earth? A: God sent Jesus to live and die in the place of every sinner who would ever trust in Him, love Him, and obey Him. Q: … [Read more...] about (Brief) Easter Catechism
Did Jesus Spend Saturday Night in Hell?
The Apostles Creed begins: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He arose again from the dead. Many of us were raised with the notion that Jesus went to hell on Friday after dying on the cross. For a day and a half, he preached in hell before his resurrection on Sunday. The Scriptural support given for this view primarily comes from a few … [Read more...] about Did Jesus Spend Saturday Night in Hell?
Rethinking the Value of a Business Major
Melissa Korn, writing for the Wall Street Journal, explains why some universities are restructuring their business majors to bolster the critical thinking and problem-solving skills of their students. An excerpt:The business schools at George Washington University, Georgetown University, Santa Clara University and others are tweaking their undergraduate business curricula in an attempt to better integrate lessons on history, ethics and writing into courses about finance and marketing. Along with more than 20 other U.S. and European business schools, those institutions met last month at … [Read more...] about Rethinking the Value of a Business Major
Manufacturers struggle to preserve ‘shop math’ skills
Good article on how the manufacturing industry, hiring since 2010, has trouble finding people with the necessary math skills. An excerpt: "It used to be if you worked fine with your hands, you could make it. You could have a job," said Michael A. Lucas, director of the North Montco Technical Career Center, a vocational high school not far from the K'nex plant. "Now, if you cannot do a B average in math, you cannot even obtain that job, because the academic and technical skills must go hand-in-hand." It appears that the math skills of high school graduates has been deteriorating at the same … [Read more...] about Manufacturers struggle to preserve ‘shop math’ skills