Goal 4:Free education to anyone who wishes it through college.ObstaclesExtending free education through college should not have any philosophical issues. At one time completion of high school was felt to be not too important for most of society. As the skills required of the workforce increased, society adapted and changed goals. We can expect this trend to continue in the future. So objections are once again mostly related to sources of funding — an implementation issue. Some people claim that there aren't enough jobs that require a college degree available so why create more overqualified workers? This objections assumes that the only reason for increased education is to improve one's job prospects, but there are other benefits to more education. These include the ability to perform as a better citizen as improved education gives one more knowledge with which to make informed decisions in a democratic society.Another benefit is just one of personal accomplishment. Feeling good about one's own accomplishments improves well being, confidence, and enables people to get more out of life. Knowing more about the world opens up new avenues, whether in appreciation of the arts, or exposure to crafts and skills that one can now pursue for self-fulfillment, or just for the love of learning. There was some value in the old model of producing polished "gentlemen" who would then move into middle management in government or commerce. As the world become more complex more learning is needed even to make decisions for one's own life. These can be medical, retirement or a choice of career. More learning means a higher probability of making the best choice. ImplementationState schools already enroll the majority of college students. The basic costs for this education should be shifted to the overall society. Those who feel that since they, or their children, are not attending college should not have to pay must be accounted for. Large colleges and universities now perform many other functions besides teaching undergraduates. If a typical high school student now costs the state about $8,000 per year there is no reason that the educational costs of college should be significantly higher. Schools that wish to host other functions, whether they be sports or research, should have to find other sources of revenue. Students who wish to avail themselves of optional services should also have to pay separately.A college education need not be based upon a traditional model. For example educator Leon Botstein has established a new high school in NYC which grants both a regular high school diploma as well as a college level associate in arts degree in just four years. His feeling is that students mature earlier than when the original high school model was established, they also know more about the world at a younger age since they have access to so much more information than previously. He feels that high school is boring for many students because they could do so much more. Using his model a graduate could stop with the AA degree (equivalent to a community college degree) or spend two to four years getting a bachelor's degree. The use of on-line courses or distance learning could also make the learning process more efficient. Students currently spend only 45 hours in a typical three credit college course. This could easily be squeezed into two weeks to a month of concentrated work. Many courses offered by businesses follow this model. A succession of three week courses taken over twelve months could mean students could accumulate credits quicker and graduate sooner. The basic resistance to all public services is grounded in the narrow belief that an individual needs only to pay for the services they desire. It overlooks all the implicit services that people receive. Some people drive on federally funded highways every day, but those who walk to work still pay for this. Not everyone gets the same services and realistically some people do get a better deal than others. Steps could be undertaken to minimize the effect of selective use of government services. Those not going to college could get apprenticeship training in various trades, or learn how to set up their own business instead. As I proposed in goal 1, if everyone were guaranteed a minimal level of income support young people would not have to sacrifice their education to the need to go to work at an early age. The people are the only real resource of a society. Making sure they are educated to the highest degree practical is a necessity. Scrimping on education is a recipe for social decline and loss of international competitiveness. |