Divisive banter pertaining to the recent presidential election has been rampant. One of the most frequent (misguided) assertions I’ve read is this :
“Most of those who voted for Trump were white, uneducated males.”
Given the fact that I myself do not hold a college degree, this particular topic obviously hits close to home. (Add to that the fact that I have been homeschooling my children for the past 15-or-so years and have successfully helped three of the 10 graduate high school thus far, and you’ll understand why this subject has captured my attention.)
“Uneducated” is meant to refer to those without college degrees. (Although, digging deeper into the agendas of those slinging such accusations, one might find “they” would even consider college-degree-holders uneducated, if the degrees were earned at colleges or universities outside the Ivy League.)
Just for fun, allow me to use the super-convenient bullet point feature of Word Online to do a little name-dropping:
- Steve Jobs (No need to tell you who he is.) — net worth, $11 billion.
- Dave Thomas (Founder of Wendy’s restaurants) — net worth, $99 million.
- Dave Greene (Founder of Hobby Lobby…and, who doesn’t love THAT place, right?!) — net worth, $ 6 billion.
- Larry Ellison (Former CEO of Oracle) — net worth, an astounding $ 54 billion.
- Rachel Ray (Television foodie/chef personality) — net worth, $ 60 million.
None of them obtained college degrees. In fact, Dave Greene started a home-based business instead, on a $600 loan. Rachel Ray has no formal training in culinary arts, whatsoever.
These are merely few of many available examples that prove a college degree is not necessary to achieve high levels of business success in this nation. The United States was founded on principles that allow every person to pursue his/her individual dreams, and determine the best paths for doing so.
These people are not “uneducated”; I’d venture to say there’s a lot they could teach many who hold degrees from prestigious schools but have little to no “life experience” in the business world.
What about those who choose not to go to college, and also do not go on to become business moguls or billionaires? What about the “blue collar workers” of America, and those who struggle to make ends meet and simply do their best to perform as well as possible in the workplace, perhaps, get married, raise families and love God, and their neighbors as themselves?
Since when does not pursuing systematic instruction in a brick and mortar school mean one is uneducated?
My paternal grand-father lived to celebrate his 106th birthday. His systemized academic learning ceased at the completion of fourth grade; yet, he was one of the most intelligent, wise men I have ever had the privilege to know. How anyone could dare say he was “uneducated” is beyond me. In fact, I personally learned more about life, sitting at his feet and listening to his stories than I ever did in a classroom.
Writer Bio
Judy Dudich resides in the beautiful woods of Pennsylvania, where 24 acres of land and a home-office provide the perfect setting for her children’s home-education and her own homesteading and business ventures. Life is full of blessings (and challenges!) for Judy, as a wife, mother of 10 and Grammy to six. She is a published author, whose book, “I Surrender/A Study Guide for Women” continues to encourage and support others in Christian family lifestyles throughout the world. Judy has also previously worked in the online speaking circuit. Her passion for permaculture, re-purposing, foraging and organic gardening fills her days with learning and adventure that she loves to share.
