Gardner recognized a fundamental truth about 21st century America: college isn’t for everyone and a four-year college degree is not the only pathway to success. It’s time American families and policymakers recognize the same truth.

This can be a difficult truth for baby boomer parents. As the children of the “Greatest Generation” that survived the Great Depression and World War II, we were pushed to college. A four-year liberal arts education was deemed the ticket to the good life. Many of our fathers worked in mills and offices and storefronts; while our mothers raised us and worked in unskilled positions all hoping that we would go to college and have it better.

Thanks to their sacrifice and hard work the dream became a reality. We went off to school and indeed there were good jobs. We can never repay our parents and their generation for the legacy they gave us. But, what worked for us may not work for our children and they shouldn’t be forced into a one-size fits all future.

The truth is not all “good jobs” require a four-year college degree; and a college degree doesn’t guarantee employment. The global marketplace requires skills – “head skills” to be sure, but also “hand skills.” For every scientist, engineer, and chemist we need scores of lab techs and operators. For every corporate executive and factory manger we need dozens of electricians, machinists, carpenters, mechanics, welders, and yes, plumbers. In today’s information-dependent economy add to the list web designers, server-farm administrators, webcasters, and digital recording specialists.

Pennsylvania employers generally can find the degreed professionals they need. It’s the skilled workers and artisans that are in short supply and who often earn the surprisingly larger salaries in safe, rewarding and very satisfying careers.

A suburban Pittsburgh school superintendent once shouted at me, “We’re not here to create fodder for your factories. Eighty-three percent of my graduates go on to college!” I asked him how many of the students completed college with a degree. “I don’t know. That’s not my responsibility.”

Well it’s somebody’s responsibility. A high school that sends graduates blindly to college whether they need it, or are prepared for it, isn’t doing anybody any favors. Families lose tens of thousands of dollars and the young people are no better prepared for a career or to fend for themselves as adults. Public resources are also squandered providing the wrong educational opportunities.

I don’t blame Pennsylvania’s universities and colleges. Our state universities and state-related institutions are working hard to adapt to changing workplace needs. Many universities are working directly with employers to tailor programs that blend theory and practice. The Commonwealth’s community colleges have long been national leaders in job training.

Making the transition might be more difficult for the baby boomer parents who were raised to believe “everybody’s special” and can do anything they want. Everyone is special – including our plumbers. That doesn’t mean everyone should go to a four-year college program.

Our policymakers are also baby boomers struggling with a single focus model for workforce development. We have before us in Harrisburg a proposal to legalize video poker and tax the gambling as a source of grant money to students who attend PASSHE institutions and community colleges. Many people are focused on the source of the funds. Understandably, the state-related universities aren’t happy about being left out. If we are going to spend any more money on post-secondary education, then personally I think Governor Rendell is right to suggest it be needs-based funding to students rather than direct subsidies to institutions. (These are “vouchers,” right?) But, why not allow students and their families to apply the funds to any post-secondary education including career training and private technical institutes. Let the marketplace (quality reputation of the institution coupled with its career placement track record) determine where students and their families decide to spend the funds. I’d hate for students to follow the money down the wrong pathway to their American Dream.

Now is not the time to put new resources into old models. In a tough economy and tight state budget year let’s put our resources where they are most needed – helping young people to find and pursue the right path for them to a future of promise.