I don't see a scenario where free community college would be a good idea. In fact it's a rather absurd recommendation. First off this would further allow ignorant people to believe that community college education is far less superior to University education. In my case I chose community college in order to stay home for two years and save a ton of money. When answering the question "Where are you going to school?" I often got the response "you're better then that" or something along those lines. The enigma of people feeling superior when attending a University would only grow. Furthermore I can't see why anyone would attend a university unless they had received an academic, athletic, or other scholarship. This would lead to insane over crowding of community college's and being that they would be government funded ,which really means funded by our taxes, if they wanted to accommodate the rising student numbers that would be even more money out of our pockets.
Those at Universities would be paying, or not paying because of scholarships, for their own schooling AND others that are going to community college for free. Many individuals are forced to put themselves through college and they don't just want, a now, free two year degree. As if balancing work, school, and social life isn't enough they would be forced to contribute extra money in taxes to those attending community college. Doing this is bordering on socialist ideals. As if the government needs to find more ways to spend money they obviously don't have as shown in our governments trillion dollars of debt.
The argument for free community college is simply that our economy and country in general benefits with a more intelligent population, an obvious truth. Yet I don't have the confidence to say that the number of educated American's would go up with establishing free community college. Yes they might slightly rise, but what I see happening is an overcrowding of community colleges and much poorer Universities because why would you pay loads of money for the same education you could get for free. Plus, those not attending school after high school is often by choice. If they had the drive to be college educated citizens they would make it happen. College education is not easy and takes serious determination that is why many American's are not college educated. Free community college would just simply extend high school ideals of education. Giving the individual as many tries as they need with no real consequences besides the loss of time.
One thing both sides can agree on is that college, whether community or a university, is ridiculously expensive especially for those putting themselves through it. It's an investment for your future. If community college was made free it would be the only free investment I've ever heard of and it can promise return. Return in the form of money, respect, and accomplishment.
My siblings at 4 year schools who also attended PCC have said that the instructors at their respective universities are actually worse than the instructors at PCC. I agree that paying for community college would make it basically just another level of public school. You should either make all education free (entry into prestigious universities would be based purely on grades, applications, interviews, and whatever else) or you should keep things the way they are.
ReplyDeleteI often get the same response when people have told me, "You're smarter than that, why didn't you go straight to a University?" and like any other response, it's because getting a two year associates degree whether it be at a community college or a University is the same. It's always all of the prerequisites that one usually takes within the two years and so going to a community college is often a better choice, especially if people have to pay for their own education. In terms of what you mentioned about how making a community college education free would only create another level or an ideal extended high school education, I agree with this because high school doesn't really cost anything, or compared to a college education. I have seen some people in high school who simply don't try and don't care about their grades because they have the notion that high school is free and "doesn't count," which in my opinion, I think is stupid. What you do in high school does matter because it would allow people to get into certain universities that require a certain level of GPA for admission. Free community college is a bad idea because people who don't want to try and will not put in the effort (those who don't even have the desire to be college educated), will just waste time and space for those who really want it.
ReplyDeleteCollege education is an investment for your future, I totally agree. Although the costs of tuition, books, rent, or whatever it may be, may look intimidating (which is why I think some people don't even want to go to college because they feel they won't be able to pay it back), it's still a good idea because everybody can always take out a loan to help pay off their school debt. For example, the amount of debt that one could have for completing a 12-15 year education for medical school in becoming a surgeon, could be close to $750,000-$1,000,000. My brother in law is now a dentist after going through 8 years of school. He got a full-ride scholarship for his 4 year undergrad at Pepperdine University, which is great. His 4 year medical school to become a dentist, in loans came out to be about 300K, so you can only imagine what a 12-15 year medical school education would cost. BUT, once you actually become a surgeon, your salary can easily pay off that loan in several years. Neuro or Plastic surgeons make around 400-650K depending on how good of a surgeon you are. This is often the example I think of when it comes to college education being an investment for your future. The costs at the beginning may seem a lot, but if it's for the job you are really passionate for, and it's good pay, then I think everybody should go for it. We all have to work for what we want in life!