Musings of an Educational Entrepreneur

By Benjamin Franklin

This is a new column that gives educational leaders the opportunity to discuss higher education issues. For more information on how to contribute, contact Jenny Faubert at 920-264-0199 or jfaubert@careereducationreview.net.

If Benjamin Franklin were alive today this might be what he would say…

I write this missive to all those oppressed by the uber liberals who believe that for-profit education cannot, or more importantly, should not exist. In 1741, long before there was an income tax, I had a hard time finding people to work in my printing company. I decided that since I knew how to operate my printing presses, I could teach others. I started this small family owned school called Franklin’s Academy. It was small, underfunded yet served a very important purpose for the people of Philadelphia. The King’s oppressive government nevertheless allowed us to operate. Unlike modern times, we did not have a well-funded opposition who wanted to destroy what we built. Today my school has grown to become a successful, what you call, Ivy League institution.

In my life, I made many decisions, some very difficult. It is hard for people to understand today how difficult it was to rise against the injustice of King George.

My friends in the school business in the 21st century face the same injustice of the higher education establishment against our institutions.

King George’s minions wanted taxes and uniformity of thought and action in my fellow colonists. They wanted only one way to govern – their way!

For those in the career college sector, you face the same kind of oppression. My redcoats are your uber-liberal education jihadists such as the Center for American Progress, The Century Foundation, New America, etc. They, like the British, see no room for innovation, differences in corporate structure and, God forbid, profit in education. They want to keep everything the same to protect the elites of the Tories as well as the elites of the educational establishment. They, with their union allies, want to have a hegemony over education completely controlled by the government and, in my case, the King.

Nevertheless, I am concerned that the school leaders do not see all the danger of the opposition. I hear our educational administrators say we must keep our heads down rather than stand up for our students, faculty, and staff. Some say my school is different. Some say our schools are better than our peers and that the oppressive government and our opponents will pass over us and only take down the bad actors. Just as in my times, anyone who is different is considered a rebel and is treated as one.

It bothers me to see how my fellow career educators won’t stand up together to assert the rights of their students to make an educational choice. It frustrated me during our glorious revolution when folks just stood by and did nothing. For example, our sector has one organization to represent us to the government and to the public (CECU). How few schools are willing to invest in representation and protection. I believe that all schools need to coalesce to protect our students and institutions. I once said,

“We must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.”

Think about it. This will be the first of many musings.

The views expressed by contributors are their own and do not represent the views of Career Education Review.