TOWNS, LEVELS OF EDUCATION ARE VARIED

People debate the value of various forms of education.

The American Dream dictates that hard work in high school will lead to acceptance into college, a four-year degree and then a well-paying job. But a growing number of people believe the path to a successful future is through a two-year technical school.

Statistics from the 1990 U.S. Census show that more Cape Girardeau County residents attended four-year schools, while McCracken County, Ky., residents opted for two-year, associate degrees.

In Cape Girardeau County, with a population of 61,633, census statistics show that 4,916 people older than 25 hold bachelor's degrees while 2,331 hold graduate or professional degrees. Another 1,371 hold associate degrees.

In McCracken County, population 62,879, there are 3,703 people older than 25 with bachelor's degrees and 2,381 with graduate or professional degrees. In contrast to Cape Girardeau County, 2,867 in McCracken County have associate degrees.

Part of the reason for more four-year degrees in Cape Girardeau might be Southeast Missouri State University, which attracts hundreds of high school graduates from the immediate area -- many of whom drive from their hometowns instead of moving to Cape Girardeau.

Murray State University is less than a hour's drive from Paducah, which is in McCracken County, but it's still a formidable commute for residents. On the other hand, West Kentucky Tech is right in town, along with programs offered through Paducah Community College.

However, both counties share an alarming statistic. Census statistics show that 23 percent of Cape Girardeau residents and 31 percent of Paducah residents older than 25 have no high school diploma.