A Free College Education, Reality Or Empty Sales Pitch.. [View all]

[Playinghardball]

Americans currently owe $1.2 trillion in student debt, with nearly 8 million people in default. This suggests something is seriously wrong with our education system. People don’t go to college with the intention of defaulting on their loans. The promise, the expectation, is that their college education will provide them with a good paying job, in turn letting them pay off their debt. More and more, this isn’t happening. Senator Bernie Sanders and Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton have differing opinions and plans on how to solve this problem.

Hillary Clinton’s plan is much smaller in scope, and her model seems to be based on her own college experiences, from the late 1960’s and early 70s. Her plan requires a family contribution to cover “some” of the tuition. If the family is not wealthy, the student will have to take out a loan. Additionally, she wants students to work while in school. She stated,

“I am not going to give free college to wealthy kids. I’m not going to give free college to kids who don’t work some hours to try to put their own effort into their education.”

Sadly, Ms. Clinton’s views on college are on archaic side, and not terribly realistic. Most college students do not come from wealthy families. Her own college experience took place several decades ago, and is no longer applicable. College homework now takes up 3-5 hours per school day, making a part-time job a threat to the students grades, and/or their health. Speaking bluntly, expecting someone to attend a college or university, and work a part-time job is a set up for failure. There are only so many hours in a day.

In the 1980s, universities and colleges began using corporate models as a way to maximize profits. Ms. Clinton seems unaware of this philosophical change in colleges and universities. They no longer charge a “fair” rate, but have embraced a philosophy of charging what the market will bear.

More here: http://thebernreport.com/a-free-college-education-reality-or-empty-sales-pitch/