Mississippi State Auditor Shad White set the social media world on fire last week challenging how the state spends money on college and universities.
In a series of posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, White expressed his belief that college degrees that produce a more positive impact on the state’s economy should be prioritized in terms of receiving taxpayer dollars.
For instance, White argued that an electrical engineering degree is much more beneficial to Mississippi’s economy than an art degree, and therefore ought to be treated as such in terms of the money it receives from the state.
It’s time to stop investing in college degrees that aren’t worth anything and put our money into degrees that can supercharge Mississippi’s economy.
We’re working on an important report about how the state spends money on colleges/universities right now.
It’ll come out soon,…
— Shad White (@shadwhite) September 12, 2023
The state auditor was promptly met with opposition, with some commenters questioning whether White has the authority to determine the value of one major over another. Others say the upcoming report the auditor plans to release on the matter does not fall under the scope of his job title.
It’s not up to the government to dictate what educational field has value. Are you going to do away with music/literature because the musicians/writers don’t make what doctors make? Keep your nose out of choice and the free market. Worry about theft and graft by your pals
— Frank Dungan (@FrankDungan1960) September 12, 2023
Earning potential is one of the worst metrics I can imagine for shaping education. But then, this isn’t about educating all the people of Mississippi or meeting the wide-ranging needs of the state.
— Steve Price (@Steve_R_Price) September 12, 2023
White double-downed on his comments during a Monday appearance on The Gallo Show, asserting that part of his job is to investigate any public expenditure that may not be in the best financial interest of those paying taxes.
“It involves the expenditure of taxpayer dollars and what is wise and what is not,” White said. “Since the mid