During WWII something pretty amazing happened here … A rural, hick state emerged at or near the top of America’s technocracy.
Two war time efforts drove this transformation… Boeing built the airplanes that won the war and Hanford’s plutionium, dropped from one of those planes, ended the war.
All of this could have meant little over the next half century except that Washington State also built a great university .. the UW! Coming from obscurity, the UW emerged as an Everest like peak of higher ed. Maps of government research funding showed the expected mountain ranges in the Northeast and Califiornia, but the spire arising from Seattle provoked jealousy amongst our sister states. Today, the UW ranks at or near the top of all research univeristies in medicine, computer science, mathematics, and many other areas. It is at least arguable that a kid attending the UW can get as good or better an education as a kid atteding the world’s best college
The offshoot of that education is today’s Washington economy … Boeing, Microsoft, Batelle, Amazon, Nintendo, … all of these are part of a remarkable system with roots growing from the seeds of higher ed planted here after WWII.
Now, the idea of our state as a unique place combining a great life style with high vlaue education is being threatened.
Here are some key issues:
1. Privitization:
America’s public universities are ranked as the best .. by far .. in the world. Now they are being privatized. Costs for an IN STATE UW undergrad, from a family earning five figures, are two to three time HIGHER at the UW that at Princeton because Princeton’s endowment subsidizes tuition.
2. The University as a Diploma Mill:
Our state legislature has now added “Western Governors University” as part of the Washington Higher Ed system. WGUW BRAGS that can issue diplomas even though it does not meet the standards of most WA state community colleges. Worse, through an end run around WA law, WGUW claims to be able to train Highs School Science Teachers without offering the usual courses in .. science!
3. The UW as Remedial College
Even our best Universities are now being expected to offer remedial courses because incoming students are not prepared for college. When Cliff Mass tried to address this at KUOW, he was fired.
4. Is the BS in B a BS Degree?
50% of US students now take business as a “major.” What the hell is “business?” Many of these kids are getting extended training in such classroom feel good behaviors as leadership and teamwork that it is hard to see who will be doing the real work needed for a productive community.
It seems to me that we need to consider renaming this state. Warshingtun is too hard to spell, I suggest WI SSI SSI PPI.