quote:

ORIGINAL: BlackPhx

I could not and would not consider this a hit against rugged individualism. Not everyone is interested in a college education, or would take advantage of one if it was made available. Think about it, Public schools through High School are free. Our Drop out rate from High School is one of the highest in the world  outside of third world countries. http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2002/droppub_2001/ has the last compilation. Some go on to get their GED, often many years later. Many do not.

Some will attend Vocational Colleges, learning trades that they are interested in from Automobile Mechanics to Medical Technicians and Transcriptionists. Some will enter the job market directly. Some will enter Apprenticeship Programs such as for Plumbing, Electrical Work, HVAC and other things because this is where their Interest and Talent Lies. Some will earn A.A.'s and that is where they will stop.

Others will go on for a Higher Education IF they can afford it. That is the crux of the matter I think. Parents scrimp and save for their kids to attend college if they want. The kids themselves work summer jobs and put part of it aside for College especially if they have a "calling" that requires it. We complain about the cost of going to a doctor but the average doctor got out of medical school owing  $120,000 in 2005 with an entry level salary of $37,000 to $45,000 according to http://www.amsa.org/tnp/articles/article.cfx?id=229 nearly twice what newly minted attorneys and engineers owed. There are only so many scholarships and grants to go around. This means their families and they are paying the bulk of the cost out of pocket. The average tuition for the first year is $25,000. Additionally, there are fees for books, housing, meals, student fees, traveling, etc. Public Schools are about $10,000 if you’re an in state student. Out of state students can expect to pay well over $22,000 for a public medical school. That is not for the top schools and we are also talking 8 YEARS of school..or  $200,000 just for the school tuition and does not cover the incidentals of living. If your family (and trust me unless your parents are deceased or you are married, Colleges require your parents financial information when they are figuring out your Financial aid), is earning 50,000 a year, paying out 25K a year is a hardship. Forget about it for the poor family, scholarships, aid and grants are the only way that student is going to be able to attempt it. The Minimum wage flex job isn't going to go far and something has to give there as well..time to study. Frankly I want my Doctor to have graduated well above 800 in a class of 850.

Should College be available to anyone who can pass the entrance exams, to those who have focused on attending from Grade school on. Yes. At least in my opinion and we all know what that is worth. Yes students should have to bear the cost, but tuition has risen astronomically through the years rising 147 % where the average income has not.

Colleges should go back to being a "grind", too often like our public schools they are catering to the lowest common denominator. Courses like Star Trek the Prime Directive or Soap Operas 101 should be scrapped for more Ethics courses or business courses that everyone who is not on a MBA course should still have under their belt.

We as a country need to start supporting our educational needs. Education is often where the first cuts come when budgets are revamped, but without a proper education from Kindergarten to College if the student decides to attend we as a country will be the losers in the long run.

poenkitten (who worked her way through an AA, but couldn't afford to go further)

quote:

ORIGINAL: cloudboy


Rugged individualism takes yet another hit.