Abstract
The beauty of American higher education is the coupling of thought and action: Thinking people putting ideas to work make a university strong. It’s the foundation of a free society to boot. But is it a disappearing reality?
“You see, idealism detached from action is just a dream. But idealism allied with pragmatism, with rolling up your sleeves and making the world bend a bit, is very exciting. It’s very real. It’s very strong.”
Bono
________________________________________________________________
Hank Williams twanged Clarence Williams’ (no kin) ballad “My Bucket’s got A Hole in It” in 1949. We have two holes in our higher education bucket in 2013 and they need plugging.
Brain drain, not a flush but a slow leak, of students into Canada to places like McGill University in Montréal is gaining momentum. Speculation on causes of the migration proliferates. Six percent of the McGill’s students are U.S. citizens, and the number is growing. In an April 24th NBC report, Rehema Ellis and Jeff Black argue the primary reason for students departing the U.S. for Canada is cost.