Is education a right or privilege?

[Cin]

Originally Posted by Jive Turkey

I'm not sure how I feel about this either. I think, at a fundamental level, things like education and medicine should be free, but then what kind of quality will you get if nobody is making money at the other end?

Surely the government would see investing in education and health is a good thing. Making education and health free would help so many people. Chronically ill people could be managed and possibly enjoy a life without pain or disadvantage. Imagine if your child couldn't go to school? Circumstances change from birth to school and some people cannot afford expensive schooling. Education is a basic need, without it the rich get richer and the poor get the picture.

primary and secondary free, university within reach of the people who want to go.

[Kieran McConville]

If all this credentialism is so important, perhaps 'free' schooling should be extended to something closer to 15 years and incorporate elements now found in many undergraduate degrees.

Then the 'elite' can do their doctorates or whatever at some uber-expensive college.

[Jive Turkey]

Originally Posted by Cin

Surely the government would see investing in education and health is a good thing. Making education and health free would help so many people. Chronically ill people could be managed and possibly enjoy a life without pain or disadvantage. Imagine if your child couldn't go to school? Circumstances change from birth to school and some people cannot afford expensive schooling. Education is a basic need, without it the rich get richer and the poor get the picture.

primary and secondary free, university within reach of the people who want to go.

I've always thought it was disgustingly short sighted when governments cut spending on schooling and teachers get the shaft on salaries. It should be one of the untouchables when it comes to budget cuts; spend the money now and in a generation, save 10 times that in the problems it would alleviate. But people want the government to spend their money on things they'll see the benefits from in a year, not 20 years. It's a shame

[Jive Turkey]

Originally Posted by Cin

primary and secondary free, university within reach of the people who want to go.

I was talking about post secondary in my original post. elementary and secondary are free as it is (though underfunded)

[ladyfreckles]

Originally Posted by Jive Turkey

I've always thought it was disgustingly short sighted when governments cut spending on schooling and teachers get the shaft on salaries. It should be one of the untouchables when it comes to budget cuts; spend the money now and in a generation, save 10 times that in the problems it would alleviate. But people want the government to spend their money on things they'll see the benefits from in a year, not 20 years. It's a shame

It depends on where you live. In my hometown teachers were ridiculously overpaid and under-qualified. Here teachers are overqualified and underpaid. I remember a kindergarten teacher making $80,000 in my hometown. She'd been doing it for 20 years, but the starting salary for many elementary school teachers was $65,000. Here I have a friend who teaches third grade and barely makes above the poverty level, yet we require a masters degree to teach.

Originally Posted by Kieran McConville

If all this credentialism is so important, perhaps 'free' schooling should be extended to something closer to 15 years and incorporate elements now found in many undergraduate degrees.

Then the 'elite' can do their doctorates or whatever at some uber-expensive college.

The countries with the highest science and math scores in the world have LESS years of schooling than we do. Finland has 10 years of pre-college education as opposed to our 12.

[KhanadaRhodes]

Originally Posted by ladyfreckles

The countries with the highest science and math scores in the world have LESS years of schooling than we do. Finland has 10 years of pre-college education as opposed to our 12.

yep, it isn't how long you learn it, but how you learn it.

[deep]

Originally Posted by anitram

Primary and secondary education is a right. Tertiary education is neither a right nor a privilege, it is a choice.

I agree with this.

Here in America, kindergarten through 12th grade is compulsory and paid for by public funding. Anything beyond that is a choice. To require any public funding for college is questionable and has contributed to the soaring costs that so many are complaining about.

[deep]

Originally Posted by Cin

Surely the government would see investing in education and health is a good thing. Making education and health free would help so many people. Chronically ill people could be managed and possibly enjoy a life without pain or disadvantage. Imagine if your child couldn't go to school? Circumstances change from birth to school and some people cannot afford expensive schooling. Education is a basic need, without it the rich get richer and the poor get the picture.

primary and secondary free, university within reach of the people who want to go.

a lot of people in this thread have been throwing around the word "free".

I think what is meant is "provided at no cost" to the user.

The costs of higher education in America has grown way out of proportion because there is a disconnect between what and how the user pays and to where the costs have gone.