Higher education: Timeless or outdated?

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The Pulse by DB8
July 13, 2023

Is getting a degree worth the time and money? Back in the day, it was a no-brainer. But in today’s world, with information right at our fingertips, people are starting to question if that fancy piece of paper is really worth it.

The Pulse Results (51 Votes) 📈

Side A 56.86% - Traditional higher education will always be a massive accomplishment, and will never go out of style

Side B 43.14% - Traditional higher education is a waste of time and money, there are better ways to learn and make money in today’s world

Poll closed: July 17, 2023

Published on: January 10, 2018
Published by: Smithsonian Magazine

In a world where virtually anything your heart desires can be learned with a simple Google search, more and more people are questioning the necessity of traditional education. You know, the good ol' "attend lectures in a lecture hall, read a textbook, and write an exam" type of education. The kind our grandparents and parents hoped we would pursue, proudly displaying that framed $60,000 piece of paper we worked so hard to achieve. Getting a degree was once the ultimate accomplishment and a measure of success.

We can't deny that the world is changing quickly. Technology has transformed the information at our fingertips, the way we learn, and the skills we require. Just look at how AI has shaken up the world in a matter of months!

It appears that more and more individuals are opting for non-traditional paths of learning, and who can blame them? We've seen some of the brightest minds, like Bill Gates, Jack Dorsey, and Mark Zuckerberg, *thrive* without every throwing a graduation cap in the air.

While some argue that higher education is an outdated system and a waste of time and money in today's world, others firmly believe that getting a higher education is worth every penny. They argue that a degree is about much more than just textbooks and exams; it represents a timeless accomplishment, that will never go out of style. After all, there will always be professions that require a proper degree. Nobody wants their doctor or lawyer to have graduated from the School of TikTok and YouTube with a major in Reddit.

Today, we'll leave it up to you to decide whether higher education is timeless or outdated.

The Debate Showdown

Side A: Traditional higher education will always be a massive accomplishment, and will never go out of style

  • A degree shows that you’re able to follow through on whatever you set out to do. It isn’t necessarily about the subject you majored in, as much as it is about the grit and determination it takes to push through to the end.

  • Having a degree is something you can almost always fall back on. There will always be positions available for niche jobs who want to see that you completed a degree, even if it’s not in line with the profession you’d be working in.

  • Going to university is about so much more than reading textbooks and writing exams. It’s about learning valuable life lessons by stepping out into the real world, learning to live and interact with others, networking and making lifelong memories. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that makes us better people.

  • There are some things the internet can’t teach you and AI can’t replace every profession. YouTube can’t teach doctors how to be doctors or lawyers how to practice law. Do you want your family doctor to have a “degree” from watching YouTube videos & TikToks?

  • North America has some of the most prestigious schools in the world – students from all over come here to study because of what we have to offer, we should be proud of what we have to offer international and domestic students.

Side B: Traditional higher education is a waste of time and money, there are better ways to learn and make money in today's world

  • Society preys on young people and scares them into believing the only way they’ll be successful is if they go into a stupid amount of debt to learn something that could otherwise be learned on the internet. In the age of information, we have everything we want to learn right at our fingertips… for free. YouTube videos and cheaper online courses are readily available for way less than a $60,000 piece of paper and $200 textbooks.

  • Most employers ask that you have a degree but don’t actually ask you to provide them with proof. You could literally lie on your resume and most employers would never even know. If you can show that you know what is necessary and can do the job as well as anyone else... that should be all that matters.

  • Universities and colleges are struggling to keep up-to-date; the world is changing too rapidly for anyone to be certain that the job they’re training for today won’t be made obsolete by technological advancements before they get their degree. Just look at how AI has changed the world in just a few short months.

  • We can’t assume that a high school graduate has any idea what they want to do in the ‘real world’ if they have not actually gone out and experienced the real world; it’s better to take a couple years and get some real work and volunteer experience in different areas before deciding what career path you want to take and if it even involves higher education.

Previous Debate

Cyclists VS. Cars: Who rules the road?

Cars VS. Cyclists. A rivalry as old as time, fuelled by strong opinions, heart-stopping close calls, and an orchestra of honks and flying middle fingers. Buckle up, this Pulse is a juicy one.

debates.db8.com/p/cyclists-vs-cars-rules-road

The Pulse Results (42 Votes) 📈

Side A 45.24% - Bikes don’t belong on the road, it is way too dangerous for them

Side B 54.76% - Cars need to learn to share the road with other vehicles, including bikes

Poll closed: July 12, 2023

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