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To the editor:
I'll expand on one point made by Ron Isaac in his superb Aug. 29 column, "Big blue comeback, or thinning blue line?" that college credits don't equate with how well you can do a job. My father was a college dropout who went from being a clerk in the U.S. Attorney's office to a manager.
He later held a management job at a private law firm for about 20 years before succumbing to health issues. His employers valued him because his decisions profited them.
I remember a comment from a person with a master's degree, who at the time was a friend, saying about my father, "He could never do that today." In this age of credentialism, that statement was accurate. But his tone of voice implied that my father got away with something.
But for all this man's education, he would slam on the brakes for a yellow light because he didn't have enough sense to differentiate between that and a red one. He also never held a job with the type of responsibilities my father had.
Don't get me wrong: My most intelligent friend was a wonderful woman who often gave excellent advice. After her divorce, she raised three children who became well-educated and wound up with good jobs. At the same time, she worked full-time and earned a degree from Columbia as a part-time student.
On the other hand, I ended a long-time friendship with a man who usually said stupid things simply because he thought the best use for his 130 IQ was to gaslight people.
So I believe that what it takes to be a good police officer does not equate with credits from a classroom.
Richard Warren
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Word Man
In your letter, you highlight that college credits don’t necessarily translate to job performance. You provide an example of your father, a college dropout, who excelled in management roles due to his practical decision-making skills. This challenges the notion that formal education is the sole indicator of competence. Your hypothesis is a half-truth. In specialized fields such as law, medicine, and science, a college degree is essential; however, not all professionals within these fields are equally competent. This raises the question: What makes someone competent? The answer lies in their inherent intelligence and the merit system.
Wednesday, September 10 Report this
Admin
My father was a manager in the U.S. Attorney's office and then at a law firm. He learned the law on the job. Also, there are plenty of lawyers with law school degrees who are incompetent. Lawyers who worked for my father often consulted with him because of his excellent memory of the law.
Friday, September 12 Report this