The Costs of Education

My oldest daughter graduated from college last Saturday. She managed to get through college on scholarships and part-time employment. We had spent a lot of time talking to our children about not taking on thousands of dollars in student loans to get a college degree. Don't misunderstand me, I believe that higher education is important and often leads to better pay, better work hours, and more opportunities for advancement. Our concern is beginning adult life with crippling amounts of debt.

My daughter worked hard during college and maintained a high GPA. Her degree was supposed to be completed in 4 3/4 years, but she finished in 4 years. I'm proud of how serious she was about her education. Several of her friends were blessed with parents who were able to pay for their education. These friends partied a lot, changed majors frequently, and "got by" in their coursework. Many of them will not graduate on time.

Education is taken for granted when someone else pays the bill. It's easy to switch majors when doing so causes no difficulties. Someone else will pay the additional thousands of dollars in tuition and housing for the extra 2-3 years of college that are needed to graduate. Failing classes aren't a hardship if paying the tuition bills are not your responsibility. It's a shame that so many students attending college aren't concerned about the academics and look at college as a time to slack-off and behave immaturely.

Before the industrial revolution, most people were educated privately at home or paid tuition to private schools. Education (in general) was taken seriously. Students received a high level of educational proficiency in a small period of time. Parents scrimped and saved to provide their children with an education. It was considered a privilege to attend school.

This is no longer the case for most people. Many students don't want to attend school. They feel that school is pointless and "boring". Homework is often ignored for other activities. Children spend years of their lives sitting in classrooms, often just putting in their time until they are 18 and are no longer required to attend school. Many students that attend college often do not know what they want to do with their lives. These students attend college because it is expected. Many never receive a diploma.

I know that the world has changed a great deal since the industrial revolution. Computers, a global economy, and the job market have added new facets to what is needed to be considered educated in our life-time. Our current educational system needs to be changed. It is failing to produce students with a knowledge of basic academics. Students need to be motivated to learn. The costs of our educational system are staggering. Locally, taxpayers are spending $8,000-$12,000/student/year. My daughter's college charges $8000/semester for tuition. Where is all this money going? A nearby school district employees a former principal (around $70,000/year) to come up with gimmicks for students to attend school on count day. He gives out iPods, bikes, and computers to students with a track record of being truant. Why are these students being rewarded with tax payer money? Students who attend class and apply themselves don't receive these rewards. Somewhere in all the bureaucracy too much money is wasted.

Teachers should receive a fair wage for their work. Buildings should be in good repair. There will always be costs for public education. But as taxpayers, we should demand that the money be spent wisely. Bad behavior should not be rewarded. Changing the requirements for graduation or designing a new character curriculum is not going to change out current educational problem. Putting a band-aid on a severed artery isn't enough.