General Discussion

TexasMommaWithAHat

(3,212 posts)

23. It seems like we could go to a system of free community colleges

Wed Oct 1, 2014, 11:24 AM

Oct 2014

and state trade schools - basically, make the "next two years" after high school graduation free just like k through 12. For everyone. More community colleges would have to be built, and society should learn to value them, imo.

At 4 year public universities, freshmen and sophomores who graduated in the top "x" percentage of their high school classes (25%?) or show potential based on whatever criteria the school uses, would also receive free tuition.

After the first 60 or 70 hours, students would pay REASONABLE tuition. REASONABLE loans at no more than 3% interest for the life of the loan. Debt forgiveness in extreme cases, and small payments for less extreme cases.

Imo, an educated populace is certainly beneficial to a nation, but at some point, one must think of the cost in terms of benefits accrued. Or do we ration higher education to top students only?

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German universities to scrap all tuition fees! [View all] grahamhgreen Oct 2014 OP

I'd be happy to revert to a German university model if we did what the Germans do Dreamer Tatum Oct 2014 #1

I'd be happy to for any reason. Education is investment in our future. grahamhgreen Oct 2014 #3

I studied in Germany and I think, this weeding-out makes sense. DetlefK Oct 2014 #7

What's wrong with offering remedial classes for those who learn differently or at a different pace liberal_at_heart Oct 2014 #8

That's not the German model. Take it up with them. Dreamer Tatum Oct 2014 #9

It is never a waste. Learning should be a life long process. We should encourage anyone liberal_at_heart Oct 2014 #10

Which is partly why we have the problems we do. Dreamer Tatum Oct 2014 #14

Then maybe the university should expand its studies to include classes that teach in a different way liberal_at_heart Oct 2014 #15

University in Europe has been described to me as like the military Dreamer Tatum Oct 2014 #16

Well I feel for the mothers over there and over here for that matter whose disabled children liberal_at_heart Oct 2014 #18

It's not so bad.... GermanWatcher Oct 2014 #60

But you're here promoting the German model. So it makes sense to take it up with you. pnwmom Oct 2014 #29

How do you know that? You don't. Nor do I. Dreamer Tatum Oct 2014 #30

He wasn't mildly affected then. He wouldn't have been able to pass their college-level reading tests pnwmom Oct 2014 #32

I'm just relating what the German system is like. Sue them, not me. nt Dreamer Tatum Oct 2014 #33

You were the one who said you'd be happy to have no tuition IF they followed the German pnwmom Oct 2014 #36

Oh, I meant that completely. Dreamer Tatum Oct 2014 #40

then don't go to school 1dogleft Oct 2014 #88

Someone here is advocating for the German approach. I think it's less than optimal. n/t pnwmom Oct 2014 #89

No. OldEurope Oct 2014 #65

Good. Because they'd be missing out on some strong engineering talent. pnwmom Oct 2014 #66

thank you n/t 1dogleft Oct 2014 #87

It seems like we could go to a system of free community colleges TexasMommaWithAHat Oct 2014 #23

Maybe they shouldn't be in a four year college dbackjon Oct 2014 #34

Unfortunately, a "natural" engineer has to wade through two years of general education pnwmom Oct 2014 #38

That's not true. The first two years of an engineering curriculum are actually pretty tough badtoworse Oct 2014 #44

You still have to take general education requirements that can lower your GPA. pnwmom Oct 2014 #46

I actually found the humanities courses to be pretty easy compared to the math and science. badtoworse Oct 2014 #48

My relative had dyslexia that was still a problem when he entered college. pnwmom Oct 2014 #49

Glad it worked out for him, but I think his situation represents an exception. badtoworse Oct 2014 #51

His reading skills improved throughout college. That's why I think the German testing system pnwmom Oct 2014 #52

That's the German way, structured and rigid. badtoworse Oct 2014 #57

But the best engineers aren't necessarily the best readers. Some of them actually have dyslexia. pnwmom Oct 2014 #59

I don't know enough about dyslexia to have an informed opinion. badtoworse Oct 2014 #61

not true, there are lots of bachelor degrees in robotics, AC/DC theory, telecom, snooper2 Oct 2014 #50

You still have to wade through non-technical classes at any community college. nt pnwmom Oct 2014 #53

If I remember correctly I had one science course, one math course and some elective snooper2 Oct 2014 #54

I have a community college student living with me right now, pnwmom Oct 2014 #55

that sucks, I guess I got lucky snooper2 Oct 2014 #58

How many could pass the PE test? badtoworse Oct 2014 #62

The PE is a tough test. U4ikLefty Oct 2014 #68

Yes, dotymed Oct 2014 #81

Rather than saying "tough shit", you are too poor Cal Carpenter Oct 2014 #19

Or how about we get universal free tuition by de-funding all these worthless wars? Arugula Latte Oct 2014 #21

And worthless degrees. Right there with you. nt Dreamer Tatum Oct 2014 #25

How do you decide which degrees are "worthless?" immoderate Oct 2014 #27

Ones that don't generate jobs. Dreamer Tatum Oct 2014 #28

There are jobs that didn't exist when I went to college. immoderate Oct 2014 #37

I'm not sure any of that is true. nt Dreamer Tatum Oct 2014 #41

You can look it up. immoderate Oct 2014 #45

Technology is moving so fast that after a few years a lot of "job generating degrees" might be Arugula Latte Oct 2014 #43

People who work hard and people who only shuffle large amounts of money around are destroying earth. hunter Oct 2014 #82

Why does much of that require college? Dreamer Tatum Oct 2014 #83

The most effective dreamers can do the math and they know the science and history. hunter Oct 2014 #84

You mean you agree with me? Great. Dreamer Tatum Oct 2014 #85

No. I think further education ought to be available to anyone at any time, both trades and academic. hunter Oct 2014 #97

Isn't that what every college/univ.'s admission office does? merrily Oct 2014 #47

As long as the hiring requirements at most companies change as well whopis01 Oct 2014 #71

That is great for the young people in Germany! logosoco Oct 2014 #2

From a website for german students: DetlefK Oct 2014 #4

Works for me;) grahamhgreen Oct 2014 #5

My cousin's wife is an MD CANDO Oct 2014 #6

It doesn't mean that everyone can go to university, though frazzled Oct 2014 #11

doesn't sound like a system I want my autistic son in that's for sure. liberal_at_heart Oct 2014 #13

You might be interested in this frazzled Oct 2014 #17

that sounds like a lovely movie. liberal_at_heart Oct 2014 #20

And where is the money coming from? treestar Oct 2014 #76

The american system reflects our values. It's what we voted for taught_me_patience Oct 2014 #12

But who will think of the poor Halliburton and Exxon and GE executives?! Arugula Latte Oct 2014 #22

Are we sure that we won WWII? Yavin4 Oct 2014 #24

They lost in the short term hifiguy Oct 2014 #31

You make a most compelling point, Yavin4. calimary Oct 2014 #35

They lost treestar Oct 2014 #75

That's how smart people handle higher education. In the U.S. ladjf Oct 2014 #26

Other countries provide a hybrid that may sound counter-intuitive to us RufusTFirefly Oct 2014 #39

This whole premise is ridiculous. K-12 is supported by taxes. Why isn't higher education? liberal_at_heart Oct 2014 #64

Don't give them any ideas. Jamastiene Oct 2014 #70

Higher Ed guyfromla Oct 2014 #42

Saudi Arabia's universities are also tuition-free DrDan Oct 2014 #56

And we spend our money defending them..... Sad. grahamhgreen Oct 2014 #67

as well as other countries in the ME. DrDan Oct 2014 #72

Unless you are a woman. JTFrog Oct 2014 #77

free university education is available to women in Saudi DrDan Oct 2014 #80

"probably not all fields of study are available, but still..." JTFrog Oct 2014 #99

You do realize they attend tuition-free DrDan Oct 2014 #100

Free tuition doesn't impress me much in this example. JTFrog Oct 2014 #101

How many male-only colleges do we still have? Quite a few DrDan Oct 2014 #102

Argentina too. n/t FSogol Oct 2014 #78

k&r Electric Monk Oct 2014 #63

Filed under things that would never happen in backassward America. Jamastiene Oct 2014 #69

Germany goes forwards T_i_B Oct 2014 #73

I was born into German immigrant family TRoN33 Oct 2014 #74

Another A+ for requiring corporate boards to be 50% workers. grahamhgreen Oct 2014 #79

Investing in their collective future. toby jo Oct 2014 #86

Not sure they are investing. Helen Borg Oct 2014 #95

That's great! Hubert Flottz Oct 2014 #90

“Tuition fees are socially unjust..." workinclasszero Oct 2014 #91

Would everyone be comfortable telling people they have no right to a college education? pediatricmedic Oct 2014 #92

We spen billions on prisons, our criminal justice system and police. JDPriestly Oct 2014 #93

Will the German Govt Helen Borg Oct 2014 #94

Well done Germany .. Lenomsky Oct 2014 #96

If we can afford war, we can afford education. grahamhgreen Oct 2014 #98