Free college for all?

[Tim]

What do you think. Should a free college education be available to all that successfully complete high school? Sort of what the GI bill did for the 19million service men/women returning from war in 1944.

It has been estimated that the cost of those free educations was returned to the economy by a factor of 10. Education is the foundation to this country and the more college educated people, the better the country will do.
We are trailing the rest of the world in education and it's only getting worse. I believe that we need to address this now and work towards a better education system in this country. I believe that free college would be a great kick start for this country.

So what are your thoughts?

 

[COOL_BREEZE2]

Education is the foundation to this country and the more college educated people, the better the country will do.

Yes. Especially in light of above quote.

Within the last few years (2-4 years I believe) we have recognised the importance of this and our government has included also FREE University education. We now have in place:

Free Primary school education (6-11 years). (your Elementary school equivalent)
Free Secondary school education. (your High school equivalent)
Free University education

This is a big investment with the inclusion of the University education because fees for that is quite exorbitant and made it very difficult to afford for most. But it s a good investment.

 

[dt3]

I voted for more info. It seems like a good idea, but surely there are negatives too.

 

[SYN]

didn't canada do something like give 5-10 grand for those who were going to college.... the negative side was that when they finished... the Canadians went to the states!

so no lol

 

[teh_fuzz]

didn't canada do something like give 5-10 grand for those who were going to college.... the negative side was that when they finished... the Canadians went to the states!

so no lol

rofl its not like educated americans would go to Canada... and they sure as hell arent going to mexico :24:

 

[SYN]

pfft saying its the chain of powers

US > Canada > Mexico

US #1 haha

 

[Carthage]

EDUCTAION IS SOMETHING TO BE EARNED AND IS NOT A RIGHT.
I lived in the backwoods redneck part of upstate New York, and I can tell you that education is not a right, it is a privelege and it is something you have to earn. I support the abolition of all public schooling.

 

[COOL_BREEZE2]

You might want to re-look that spelling Carthage.

 

[dt3]

You might want to re-look that spelling Carthage.

:24: He hasn't earned his education yet

 

[COOL_BREEZE2]

:24: He hasn't earned his education yet

LOL, it was just so funny seeing he emphasized it so much and got the spelling wrong I couldn't help myself.

 

[Tim]

You might want to re-look that spelling Carthage.

I rest my case...

I'll say this once again for the slow....
An educated society is good for all. It even helps people on the internet.

 

[COOL_BREEZE2]

:24: Lol.

 

[Obdurate]

lol Yeah I probably can't get behind a lot that Carthage says but it can't benefit the society as a whole to make people earn education. Give them the chance right off the bat, if they choose not to apply themselves then that's their choice and I'm sure they'll get treated accordingly.

I never went to University but my gf does and just from what she tells me about her Uni (U of Waterloo, supposed to be a good one), it's pretty disgusting to think about where all the money she pays goes.

 

[Peter Parka]

It's a big issue over here right now with people taking years of struggling to pay back their student loans and money talking to get people into the best colleges. If we're going to try and get poor people to better themselves, the opportunities should be there for them.

 

[FreeWorkVest]

EDUCTAION IS SOMETHING TO BE EARNED AND IS NOT A RIGHT.
I lived in the backwoods redneck part of upstate New York, and I can tell you that education is not a right, it is a privelege and it is something you have to earn. I support the abolition of all public schooling.

So, you live in a village from the 1830's?

 

[COOL_BREEZE2]

 

[Goat Whisperer]

I don't think we should waste tax payers money on the educations of kids who will not finish college. As for the ones with a greater chance I would say yes. It would jut depend for me, on if they had like an actually criteria for it. They have to have a 3.5 GPA and above or something. Also, if college was free for anyone who graduated high school, think of how less students would work to get things like scholarships and such. I think there should be far more governmentally funded scholarships for students, but, I don't think it should be free for everyone.

 

[Tim]

I agree. I think there should definitely be some restrictions on who can go. I mean if you barely skated through school and didn't give a damn, then you don't go. But if you see that your college education will be paid for in full if you work hard and get good grades, that's one hell of a motivation.

I didn't mean anyone and everyone should go. There has to be limits

 

[dt3]

I agree. I think there should definitely be some restrictions on who can go. I mean if you barely skated through school and didn't give a damn, then you don't go. But if you see that your college education will be paid for in full if you work hard and get good grades, that's one hell of a motivation.

I didn't mean anyone and everyone should go. There has to be limits

:unsure: What about quotas for minorities and other affirmative action requirements? :ninja

 

[ssl]

Affirmative action, while great for newscasts and other types of propaganda reasons, is not good.

Like Carthage said, education has to be earned. However, I disagree with his position that all public education should be eliminated.

More specifically, higher-level education (post-secondary/college/university) should be earned.

My thoughts, with the information I have at the time (I voted 'need more information'):

- Public education, though high-school level, should be free (besides supplies and such).
- Based on GPA (4.0 scale), it should be set up where you get a large enough scholarship to cover the costs of books and tuition for:
-- 3.0+: An associate's degree (2-year institution)
-- 3.5+: A bachelor's degree (4-year institution)

Based on GPA (4.0 scale) from the higher-level institution, it should be so that if you get a 3.5+ GPA, you will continue to obtain the necessary scholarships to pursue a higher-level degree.

As I was writing this, I thought that there should be a standard for higher-level institutions:
- 2 year institutions are colleges
- 4 year institutions are universities

It is close to that standard, but around here, it is not implemented fully (I am going to the College of Charleston this fall, and it is a 4-year institution).