Is College a Waste of Time and Money?

A Special Report, Wall Street Journal

Today's issue of the Wall Street Journal asks six relevant questions concerning education today:

1. Do Too Many Young People Go to College?
   Four education-policy experts debate whether some students would be better off spending their time and money somewhere else.
2.  Should All U.S. Students Meet a Single Set of National Proficiency Standards?
   Yes, says education expert Chester E. Finn Jr., because it will ensure that students have the skills they need to compete globally. No, says Jay Greene of the University of Arkansas, because progress comes from letting schools experiment.
   
3.  Should More College Financial Aid Be Based on Need, Not Merit?
   More aid should be based on need, says Mark Kantrowitz, because it helps those with the most to gain. Greg Forster says need-based aid is middle-class welfare that drives costs higher.
4.  Should Student Test Scores Be Used to Evaluate Teachers?
   Yes, says Thomas Kane of Harvard, because test scores reflect teacher quality. Linda Darling-Hammond of Stanford says no, because teaching is too complex.
5.  Should Tenure for College Professors Be Abolished?
   At some point, discussions about the quality of higher education in the U.S. come around to the subject of tenure. And the disagreement could hardly be more stark.
6.  Should Colleges Consider Legacies in the Admissions Process?
   Yes, says Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, because it's good for the schools. No, says Richard D. Kahlenberg (pictured), because it undercuts merit.