The higher education imperative. (Opinion Pulse).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)

More than 60 percent of Americans say that being able to go to college or provide a college education for their children is what the American Dream is all about, and three quarters say getting a college degree is more important than it was ten years ago. The symbolic and practical value of a college degree explains why more people than in the past say that the more college-trained people there are in the country, the better off we will be.

 
Question: I'm going to read you some possible 
definitions or descriptions of the 
American Dream, and for each one 
I'd like you to tell me if that's ... 
 
Very much what the 
American Dream means 
 
To own 
a home        72% 
 
To be able 
to get a 
college 
education      63 
 
To be able to 
send one's 
children to 
college        63 
 
Note: Several other issues ranked higher than being able to 
go to college, including having freedom of choice in how to 
live one's life (70 percent), living in an open society in which 
everyone has an equal chance (67 percent), having a 
financially secure retirement (67 percent), and being able to 
get a high school education (66 percent). 
 
Source: RoperASW, December 2000. 
 
Note: Table made from bar graph. 
Question: Do you agree ...? 
 
Getting a 
college 
education 
is more  ...