I didn't get the sense that my public high school had a "one-size-fits-all" policy. Some students were there for vocational training, others had college plans. Some took more science/math course, or more music courses, or more humanities courses. The state required certain education to graduate, like "at least the second semester of a foreign language", so I can see how that might be a 'one size', though my school offered Spanish, Italian, German, and Latin - perhaps others too. The state required a certain number of English courses, which my school offered in different varieties (eg, AP, college prep, and normal).
Let me rephrase that. The speech and comic are self-righteous and directed at college students who may be naive. It suggests that there's something unseemly or inadequate about working for profit.
And Watterson is essentially telling students "follow your dreams." That' nice, but it should come with the addendum, "...but take into account the likelihood that you can practically achieve those dreams and prepare accordingly."
Well, no, I never noticed that, because our dining table is in the middle of the room, and it still gathers a ton of stuff. Which has to be cleaned off before dinner, but that doesn't stop it from piling up -ever.
Mine is the "real life version 2" -a coffee cup to the right of the mouse pad, set amongst many, many coffee rings. I can't tell you how many former desks have a hole worn through the finish where my coffee cup went.
And Watterson is essentially telling students "follow your dreams." That' nice, but it should come with the addendum, "...but take into account the likelihood that you can practically achieve those dreams and prepare accordingly."
And, yes, also: lawyers.