"We're not a vocational school. If someone wants to get a high-paying job, I would hope that there are easier ways to do it than working through a formal computer science curriculum"

This quote by Philip Greenspun recommends that a formal computer technology curriculum is not the only way to get a high-paying job. He suggests that there are much easier ways to accomplish this objective. He is most likely describing the reality that there are many jobs in the tech industry that do not require a formal computer technology degree. For example, many tech companies are looking for individuals with specific abilities and experience, and these abilities can be gotten through other ways such as self-learning, coding bootcamps, or online courses. For that reason, Greenspun is suggesting that a formal computer science curriculum is not the only way to get a high-paying job in the tech market.