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CHB asked:
There are many aspects of this question to consider. If education was absolutely free to all those who sought it, who would control it? Is it right to put this power in the hands of one single entity? (i.e. governments, religous sects) Also, if academic standards were applied the same to a free education as it is to an Ivy league education, wouldn’t that benefit society as a whole, instead of dividing it into “classes of education”? Can this idea be separate from that of Marx, being that higher education is itself competitive?Will a free education eliminate academic competition? Those who can afford a college education without competing for scholarships often graduate from good schools, while those unfortunate enough not to do so often suffers in ignorance and insignifigance. This is not used to promote a socialist view, but what are your arguments for or against the rationale that a free education eliminates the class structure we often pretend does not exist?
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There are many aspects of this question to consider. If education was absolutely free to all those who sought it, who would control it? Is it right to put this power in the hands of one single entity? (i.e. governments, religous sects) Also, if academic standards were applied the same to a free education as it is to an Ivy league education, wouldn’t that benefit society as a whole, instead of dividing it into “classes of education”? Can this idea be separate from that of Marx, being that higher education is itself competitive?Will a free education eliminate academic competition? Those who can afford a college education without competing for scholarships often graduate from good schools, while those unfortunate enough not to do so often suffers in ignorance and insignifigance. This is not used to promote a socialist view, but what are your arguments for or against the rationale that a free education eliminates the class structure we often pretend does not exist?
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6 users commented in " Does a free education put everyone on the same playing field? "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a Trackbackdoes free education put everyone on the same playing field??? NOT EVEN CLOSE…some people are better at certain jobs then other people, simple as that.
There is no way everyone will ever be on the same playing field.
England has free education for all. Although many do pay for private education. The education system over here is in a terrible state. There are some very good schools and some very bad ones.
Ok, there is something called “The Public School system”. It’s provided by the government. You are not technically obligated to buy anything from them. Making them FREE. So, to answer your question is very simple. Children in the public school system of America have greatly different results. This demographic of success or lack thereof depends on several different factors. Size, location, funding, abudance of staff or lack thereof, programs that are implemented, job availability after school is done, access to student loans, the economy of the area, whether the school requires uniforms, ect. In a nutshell, people that live in wealthy, well-established, moderately populated areas seem to have the highest rate of success. People that are in densely populated areas, around the poverty line, single parent homes, bring less results. That latter statement has seem to improve over the last 20 years, with the advent of student loan programs for lower class families, there are more people that started out poor getting into more lucrative fields. I’m an excellent example. I’ve used student loans from the government, attended job corps, and am now going to school again on my own MONEY, I think that the opportunity to get post-secondary education is the important thing. I was considered “impoverished” when I was growing up, now I’m far above that line and going higher. It is an individual’s responsibility to pursue the opportunities available to them. And, just because you got to college, doesn’t mean you’re gonna be donald trump or mr. huxtable. I know a art history major that delivers pizza.
Free education is a kind of a hot-potato issue. The state gets involved by determining what the citizens will be taught according to what the state considers the citizens must know or not. Religion gets involved as well by imposing dogmatic teachings especially during the first years of education.
Publishers get involved for profit. Teachers and professors who will suggest their views from subjective stand points. Rich kids go to better schools without having to compete for scholarships while less fortunate kids have to struggle with all odds and sometimes two jobs to go thru college.
On the other hand knowledge is free and available to any and all seeking truth and awareness. There are no restrictions or limitations to the inquisitive mind.
As a parent we have to make choices for our children. We have to wake up each day and decide what is in their best interest. My daughter goes to a public school.. (She’s being tested for gifted/honors classes) I KNOW she’s smart, the school knows she’s smart, AND if I could afford a private school for her I would switch her. I DO firmly believe that the public school system is geared toward children from lesser incomes, most of the children in my daughters school attend their ESL (English as a second language) classes. And so thoughtfully I am concerned that she might be held back because of those things.
NOW, if they had the SAME schooling as private schooling, most of the kids she schools with would fail.. not just fail they would fail miserably.. Most of them probably never, understood the fact they would have to focus their attentions of their studies, and actually have to WORK for their education, Now with the NO CHILD left behind act.. most of these kids are skating by and being graduated and only being able to read at a 6th grade level..
So to bring in a higher class of school that was free would simply be setting them up for failure..
If there was a test your child could take.. to KNOW they were smart, KNOW they are focused on their education and THEN once that was tested, be allowed into a free private school THAT would be fantastic!
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