We can use America's public high schools as an example from which to attempt a prediction of the future of public universities. With minimal skills, most public high school graduates have few job opportunities. So they go to college to get the needed skills. However, as the colleges decline in standards, and the vast assemblage of unprepared students avoid the tough academic disciplines that provide the skills needed in our high-tech society, college degrees will become as useless as high school diplomas. The taxpayers will continue to support these public institutions, however, because they keep the kids off the streets.
Colleges are still cheaper than prisons.
We have suggested that the State do away with the clearly sectarian Good Friday holiday and restore a much needed October day off. This would recognize what must be greatest achievement of Polynesian society. It took the Catholic Church 400 years to rehabilitate Galileo, but only a little over a century to do the same for Darwin. Actually, evolution has been taught in Catholic schools and colleges for many years. It also underscores the Catholic position that the Church, not the Bible, is the final authority.