1 of 21

No

Write now Article Tools

At first glance, parents would appear completely justified in pressuring their teenage children to get a college education. In fact, there are many who would consider a parent who does not apply this pressure to their children to be derelict in their duties. This view is unfortunately shortsighted and does not take into consideration the individual circumstances of each child and the possible negative impacts of such pressure.

The first and perhaps most obvious reason why parents are not justified in pressuring their teenage children into getting a college education is because college is not for everyone. I know that many people will disagree with this argument, but college is considered "higher education" for a reason. While college offers many benefits and there are several good reasons for attending, there are also several good reasons not to attend. Many people are simply not interested in pursuing a career that requires a college degree. There are also individuals who do not learn well in a classroom environment. We live in a society that has taught us that the definition of success involves obtaining a college education and then making large sums of money or climbing high up some corporate ladder, but there are many Americans who know that true success is determined by much more simple measures.

The second reason why such pressure from parents is not justified is because an education obtained because of pressure is never appreciated as much as an education obtained from desire. One of the things that I always found interesting in my college classes was the fact that the older participants almost always payed closer attention in class than the younger ones. The reason for this phenomenon? The older students were there because they wanted to be there, and most of the younger students were there because that was what they thought (or were told) that they should be doing. As a result of this difference in attitudes, the older students almost always got more out of the class than the younger ones.

Another point not frequently considered is the law of supply and demand and it's relation to the value of a degree. If everyone has a degree, then the value of a degree as a distinguishing factor for possible employment or promotion is gone. Of course, there is always the intrinsic value of actually earning the degree; but as stated previously, this will be very small for those who have been pressured into obtaining their higher education.

Finally, many people simply do not know what they want to do with their lives at this age. Why should teenagers and parents spend the money, or make the long term commitment to debt, for an education based on such uncertainty? The time and funding required to make a college degree a reality can quickly become an unwanted burden if the education is not appreciated or utilized. Investments of this magnitude ought to be made carefully and with much consideration.

I believe that parents are responsible for teaching their children to make good decisions and for building within them solid character. I also recognize that there are times when parents will need to pressure their children into doing the right thing. That being said, college is not right for everyone, and pressuring your teenager to obtain a college degree carries the potential of being detrimental for your teenager, for yourself, and even for society in general.

Learn more about this author, Aaron Wagner.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Are parents justified in pressuring their teenage children to get a college education??
We want to hear your view. Write now!