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The controversial conservative scholar Charles Murray raised the question of whether a liberal arts education should be abandoned altogether except for those with the leisure and resources to engage in learning as a manner of self-enlightenment rather than any practical matter such as finding a job or learning a marketable skill. Murray goes on to suggest, in his book Real Education, that perhaps we should declare the brick-and-mortar college obsolete for most purposes it now claims to serve.

The myth that to succeed in life one needs a college degree has perhaps been the biggest myth bestowed upon a people since the idea that mortgage backed securities were a good investment.

The argument that a college degree increases earning power faces two problems:

First, correlation does not mean causation. Those who earn a college degree usually earn more money in their lifetimes than people without a college degree. However, that does not mean that financial gains are linked directly to the attainment of a degree. Those who receive college degrees usually start off in better place than those who do not.

This is Part II of my personal interview with Tom Pauken who is seeking the position for Governor of Texas. We must not be blind to the achievements and failures of our Texas leadership at such a critical time as now. With Battleground Texas on our heels, we must elect a governor who will Keep Texas Red.   Read more »

Last year, I took two courses from Hillsdale College on the Constitution. This course is similar to what many Hillsdale students take, but what intrigued me was not just the course itself, as excellent as it was, but the concept. Hundreds of thousands have taken this course, and Hillsdale showed how they can easily extend their reach while providing an inexpensive education to millions.   Read more »

For the past five years, I’ve had the honor of representing you as Commissioner Representing Employers at the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). As many of you know, I’m leaving the Workforce Commission this month, but I will still remain involved in public affairs and support policies to encourage employment opportunities and private sector job creation.

As I leave TWC, I am particularly proud of the rediscovery of the importance of vocational education in providing good job opportunities for young Texans and in meeting the demand for skilled workers in our state.

I submitted written testimony today on Texas House Bill 5. The bill, authored by House Public Education Committee Chairman Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock of Killeen, is being discussed in committee this afternoon.

HB 5 replaces the STAAR test system with one that focuses on real learning and opportunities by: A) Reducing the number of required tests from 15 to five; B) Preserving accountability in our public education system by rating schools;

There are many reason why we need to address our national immigration policy. The current system is broken. It is a national security problem. It creates and encourages lawless behavior. But in addition to these problems that need to be addressed, there is an even bigger issue. We are an ageing society, and we simply need more young workers to serve as taxpayers. Yes, we don't need more taxes, we need more taxpayers!   Read more »

One of the trends we've been watching closely is the shift in attitudes when it comes to the "college for all" mentality that has dominated public policy in recent decades. Now, a plan in support of that shift is picking up steam at the Texas Legislature.

Workforce Commissioner Tom Pauken, who has been sounding the alarm about the need for more skilled workers, says the plan "is clearly going to pass the House. There's a recognition in the importance of multiple pathways to a high school diploma and the value of career and technical education."   Read more »

We've been telling you about the push in Austin to bring balance to the Texas education system. Many feel there's too much emphasis on sending every single student to college and not enough recognition that the skilled trades are a great option for many. The Texas Tribune reports on Houston Sen. Dan Patrick's bill to move the state away from the "college for all" model of education.   Read more »

Judging from the first few weeks of the new Texas legislative session, lawmakers are responding to calls for major education reform. Employers, educators, and parents have been calling on our state elected officials to allow for more flexibility in the high school curriculum rather than a “one size fits all” approach to education which pushes all students to go to a four-year university.   Read more »