Community Chat

[Greeneyedlady21]

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@PamfromCT wrote:

This may inspire other very wealthy colleges to do the same.

Back in the days, only a very select number of males were educated in top colleges.  And it left many of these colleges with very high endowments.  And do not forget about "legacy students," whose family gifts opened a door they might not qualify for.  My DD went to one of these smaller colleges and is presently working at one of the top ones.  The wealth of some of these institutions is staggering.

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Yes "legacy students" are the truly advantaged, but somehow no one complains about that. Hmmm

[chessylady]

This will make Harvard a more diverse place to receive an education. Young people with a great mind but lower income will be alowed to compete for entrance to the college. Since we know that Pell grants have already been cut, this will be a new avenue for students who otherwise could not afford college. 

[SloopJohnB]

Just a few comments stemming from some of the previous posts.  My taxes, like all the rest of us, goes to things like public schools, county transportation, roads, libraries  police and fire services..... And I have no qualms about paying any of it......like I really have a choice anyway.  Lol.     My kids, like myself, went to Catholic school, but of course I still pay the public school tax along with their tuition.  I'm only mentioning that for those that say they have no kids.  

I can probably count on one hand how many times I have had to call.the police or fire department and still have a couple of fingers left over.  Conversely, there are people who use those and many other services frequently.  Like for instance, I have never ridden on a county bus.  So we all pay for various things in our life, whether we need them.or not.  Like it was previously mentioned, that is the price we pay for living in a civilized society, although at times it doesn't seem very civilized, I'm sad to say.  😲

[Venezia]

@SloopJohnB - Exactly.  And well-stated.  Thank you.

[Venezia]

@mrshckynut - Every place must handle budgets differently.  I'm in a rural New England area.

Our school budget accounts for the greatest portion of our property taxes (currently 71%).  However, the school board must present a line-by-line budget proposal to the voters and it has to be approved by the majority.  There are public meetings held in advance of that, where items are individually debated and voted on.  Then the budget goes to referendum.

The past few years it has taken 3 to 4 attempts to get a budget passed, with certain spending being reduced or items cut.

I don't know how anyone else handles it, but our school board can't just spend the money any way they want; nor can they just demand more money without it passing the annual referendum.

I do agree that, in general, more money isn't the answer.

(And speaking of skilled trades, one of my brothers was a skilled mechanic, others worked in the mills, two were career military.  I respect every trade and level of education.  I was the first in my family to go to university.  Those who don't respect these workers better never need a mechanic, plumber, electrician...you get the idea.)

[SloopJohnB]

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@Venezia wrote:

@SloopJohnB - Exactly.  And well-stated.  Thank you.

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@Venezia  ❤

[tansy]

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@ThinkingOutLoud wrote:

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@kaydee50 wrote:

I think ALL education should be free up to and including 2 years post high school.

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I don't. Considering the dropout rate and reading level of too many of those in the public school system, why should taxpayers be on the hook for more 'free' education.

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So that students learn thinking and reasoning skills to not fall into every conspiracy theory that comes along maybe?

[Greeneyedlady21]

@tansy 😁

[ThinkingOutLoud]

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@tansy wrote:

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@ThinkingOutLoud wrote:

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@kaydee50 wrote:

I think ALL education should be free up to and including 2 years post high school.

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I don't. Considering the dropout rate and reading level of too many of those in the public school system, why should taxpayers be on the hook for more 'free' education.

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So that students learn thinking and reasoning skills to not fall into every conspiracy theory that comes along maybe?

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But that's one of the problems. They're not taught to think and reason for themselves. They're taught according to what will be on tests.

[Venezia]

@ThinkingOutLoud - Well, I guess I must've been lucky to have gone through a different educational system.  I was taught to think and reason for myself; to look at all the facts, try to see each side of an argument, and draw my own conclusions.

I remember the plaque that one of my favorite professors had on his desk:

"Education is man's going forth from cocksure ignorance, to thoughtful uncertainty."  (author unknown)  Words to live by.

This same professor told me to always know the source of any "information".  (In my case, because I was a science major, the source of any research.)  I never forgot that.  Still makes me smile, because in my naivety, I was expounding on a research paper that praised the benefits of oil and other fossil fuels.  He simply said "Who funded the research?"  Answer?  Exxon!  Lesson learned.