Is free education bad?

[Something completely different]

Wow I forgot about this thread.

I checked out the social benefits I could get, turns out that additionaly to the low student fees I receive 200 to 500 euros per month until I am 25 as a student.

Feels nice to be European



Anyway.

I have heard alot of people arguing that countries like France, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands and Norway should open up more faculties at unis that are run in english language for the purpose of attracing English and American students and motivating them to stay and create a bigger and multinational educated workforce.

I kind of like the Idea and mentioned it yesterday in the shoutbox, the only problem I have with it is that our economy is already based on the very well educated workforce of chemists and engeneers and the only big lack in educated workers here is amongst doctors.
In fact 80% of all employees here who have wages that bring them close to brink of living in poverty are well educated, which is not due to the fact that jobs that require a good education are not well payed and those that dont are not, but because it is alrady almoust impossible to get a job here without not having at least one degree or diploma from an apprenticship, college or uni. Meaning that through the economic development that took place here during the 1970s, high standerd jobs became low standerd due to the expantion of the education requirement in our economy.

[Psykhronic]

PBBounce -

Yeah a lot of people have to take out crazy loans to go to school in the US

The system is starting to backfire though. It cannot last forever.

[pineapplebunnybounce]

Germans,

It's also impossible to get a stable job without a degree/diploma/apprenticeship here in Toronto. But it's not free, :/.

Psykhronic,

Just widens the gap between the rich and the poor. You guys are losing out on a lot of talent, IMO, the poor have smart people, too. Like I knew it was bad, but I didn't know it was this expensive.

[bladevalant546]

Yes pineapple it is horrible, the average debt a student will accumulate around 50-100k that if you go for a 4 year degree. Now if you go for like me Virology or Genetics degree in science. I am looking around 250-500k degree to be taken seriously. I seriously fucking pissed off because NOONE cares. And any reform is met with DAT DIS COMMUNIST!!!!BRA DURRRR! In all seriousness, I hope German they do that because I will go there and offer my intellect and benefit whatever country has the interest. I honestly have no idea how to reform education considering here in America the shit is so deep it will take a reboot.

[Whateverist]

Lets ask Koolaid.

[CleanShavenJesus]

College in the US is incredilbly expensive. My sister is struggling to pay for her daughter to go through school, and she's attending a state school, which is much cheaper than any private school. Private schools ran range from $40,000 to $65,000 a year. It's just ridiculous.

[Minimalist]

This is a difficult question. Yes. Education in the US is too expensive but there is another side of the coin.

My nephew works as a recruiter/counselor for the University of Phoenix. This is, if you don't know, one of the biggest scam "colleges" going. His job, because he spent 20 years in the navy, is to recruit former members of the military to the program AND hold their hands to get them through it. The first part is a snap. The government benefits pay for pretty much everything and UP regards them as a cash cow to be milked with gusto.
But...way too many of them simply cannot do it. They flunk out in droves. These are not necessarily guys who had their brains scrambled by an IED. Those we let rot on the side of the road. No, these guys could have spent 4 years sailing around the central Pacific in a carrier or chilling at an air base somewhere. But the discipline of the military does not translate well to the discipline of the classroom. These are mainly online courses and they can't do it....or won't do it. But it has nothing to do with the cost.

What it might have to do with is this.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/12/22/army.ex...index.html

Study: Nearly a quarter of takers fails Army entrance exam

Recruits must score at least a 31 on the test to meet minimum eligibility requirements. Higher scores can qualify recruits for enlistment bonuses and advanced training.

"In every state in America, the military turns away remarkably high percentages of applicants who, despite their high school diplomas, lack the reading, math, science and problem-solving skills needed to serve in the armed forces," the study says.

To get a 31 on the test basically means you have a pulse. But it sure as shit does not mean that the guys who scores a 32 is going to be college material when he gets out.