Continuing Education

Public schooling runs through high school as mandatory. Any education after that is voluntary and provided by both public and private institutions. Most are supported in part by federal funds in the form of various grants and funding programs and financial aid. States and counties fund the rest with the addition of student paid tuition and fees.

The decision to continue one’s education is a private matter. The student, whether a youth of minority age, or adult, decides to continue broadening their understanding of the world around them. This may involve a wide range of study and classes. A single public speaking event may contain the desired information and guidance, or it may be a course lasting several weeks. It may be a formal degree program such as a college bachelor’s degree.

Community colleges exist to support continuing learning. Their classes may also be arranged as a single event, or a course construct. They even provide associate degrees leading to a bachelor’s degree if the student transfers to a four-year institution. Often, area adult residents visit the campus for a solitary class or abbreviated courses. Many youths, however, pursue an educational path that leads to transferring to a senior institution and a program leading to a bachelor’s degree.

Trade schools exist to educate and train students in various skilled trade careers. These include carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, mechanics and a host of other programs. Such schools have been with us for many decades, the demand for them surging and waning with the times. They remain a vital need for our society and need more support to attract students not interested in academic pursuits. Trades and crafts remain vital in our commercial and daily lives.  Careers in this arena also need continuing education to adapt to changing technology and market demands.

As our complex social order advances through time, each of us need to expand our understanding and education for adaptability to change. This requires each of us to see our careers and employers in a broad context and understand what we can do to remain employees of continuing value. We need to value our own investment in self as much as the employer. Continuing education fills this need properly.

Education is not just college study. It is a mix of all sorts of training and research that fits the needs of each person. And employer.

To compete in the global marketplace, our nation needs to invest more in its people with smart, adaptable educational programs and institutions. Period.

October 22, 2025

 

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