The results of the Harvard University (IOP Poll) conducted in the Fall of 2015 and released December 10, 2015, revealed that among Millennials about half believe that the American Dream is dead. It is a split that is rather surprising and disturbing.
Is the American Dream Dead or have we sacrificed that dream for different expectations?
According to the study:
“While no significant difference was found based on race or ethnicity (whites – 49% said ‘alive;’ African-Americans – 44% said ‘alive; Hispanics – 52% said “alive”), respondents’ level of education did play a role. Nearly six-in-ten (58%) college graduates said the American Dream was alive for them personally, compared to only 42% of those not in college/never enrolled in college saying the same.”
Interestingly, the belief that the American Dream was dead did not differ much with political party:
“A significant majority of both Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders supporters said they believed the American dream was “dead” (Trump voters – 61%: American Dream “dead,” 39%: “alive;” Sanders voters – 56%: American Dream “dead,” 44%: “alive”).”
This is a hard poll to understand, so we were wondering if the results might be interpreted through ethical, rather than other filters. First, we should mention a seemingly distant, but important trend.
The Decline of Vocational Training
According to an article in U.S. News (Education) going back to October 20, 2014:
“Nationwide, enrollments in career-tech programs are declining, at a time when demand is increasing. A lack of qualified teachers, restricted school budgets, high operational costs and an increase in the number of academic core requirements students are required to complete for graduation have influenced career-tech education’s enrollment decline.”
We need to first accept and embrace a rather simple fact: not every student has the desire or the ability to attend college. In times past, the American manufacturing infrastructure was large enough to accept significant numbers of graduates into apprenticeship programs. Manufacturing has been largely outsourced whether production, consumer products, textiles, steel mills or any number of industries. Even many food industry and pharmaceutical jobs (I know this from personal experience and contacts) were sent off to other countries. Avenues that used to be open to high school and junior college graduates were shut. Many of these jobs were on-the-job training situations. In addition (and I have no desire to get political or contentious), with a huge influx of immigrants willing to work for lower wages, many additional avenues for young workers formerly open are now shut.
Ironically, we are in a time of economic boom where it is challenging for employers to find qualified tradespeople to fill positions in fields such as construction, steam-fitting, HVAC, electricians and plumbing trades. Therefore, many well-paying jobs are going unfilled while the training and programs needing to fill those roles is declining due a lack of facilities and teachers.
It is not a stretch to wonder if as a society we have become so enamored with the prestige of a college education that we have all but given up on young adults who are much more comfortable learning a valuable trade than an academic course of education. There is more than a healthy dose of arrogance to my ethical mind with an educational system sometimes more concerned with pumping out esoteric degrees that will never be used, than in teaching men and women how to install the ductwork in a multi-billion dollar hospital.
Where is this all leading? Perhaps one place it leads is where 42% of Millennials have given up on the American Dream. They can’t get the education they need and they can’t get the jobs that are available. It is enough to make anyone want to give up.
America’s great strength has always been in the innovation of its workforce. I am not saying “College Educated” workforce, but I am including the extremely valuable skills and training of those in vocational training programs.
To me, the ethical thing to do is to bolster and pay more attention to vocational education in this country – at least it is a start. If more than 4 in 10 Americans are giving up on a dream, maybe it is time to find out why.
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