Working Students

Today’s economy has put a financial stress on all Americans and is starting to reverse the ideals that were instilled about American higher education. The American dream has always been that: if you have the talent and motivation to do well in life, you will do well. This dream extended to the university. Talented students who showed great promise were granted scholarships and other forms of financial aid, especially if they could not afford to go to college. Other forms of financial aid, such as government grants and student loans helped to put students through college who otherwise wouldn’t be allowed to go. But the financial crisis has forced the government and the universities to cut back on funding for students. These students are now forced to work in order to make it through. Now universities, who are trying to sell a product (education) to the students, have come up with new ways to market their product during the financial crisis. The UPS “school-to-work” program that was discussed in Bousquet’s “Students Are Already Workers” was put into place in order to provide students with jobs while they work. However, the emphasis is not placed on education, but on work. Students have to work the shifts that no one else wants (such as 3 A.M.) then attend school. This leaves the students exhausted and burnt out, which leads to more students dropping out. Despite the obstacles, a few students make it through; however, this is a small number in comparison. Should a program that is causing most of its students to drop out due to exhaustion and long working hours be allowed to continue, or is this program a necessary evil?