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Should education be free?

We know that education isn’t only for teachers and students. It’s an institution, a group of people who interact with each other every day to achieve the same goal: coach our new generation. Definitely, the quantity and quality of education that the students receive depends on a big part of the countries’ government. I can explain what is happening in Argentina.
When I was a kid (a lot of years ago 😊) almost all educational institutions were public, and only a small percentage was private. Children who had the possibility to go to private school sometimes were part of the “upper-society”. The educational level that students received in private institutions was no different than public school education. Nevertheless, the education distance between private and public schools have increased year after year. Nowadays, the government doesn't invest in education as they should. Is it useful to have free education with a substandard level or a standard to an exceptional level of education paying tuition every month? Obviously, everyone wants the best education for their children, however, the immediate question is whether common people can pay tuition or not. The answer is no. The private school tuition is really expensive, so only a small group of people can afford it. What is your opinion about this? Tell me about your experience in your country, city, state, or province. Bye!

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hippyjoe1955 · 61-69, M

Nothing is ever free. Someone somewhere has to pay.

Gloomy · F

Yes and I am against private schools because they create and uphold a classist system.

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pdockal · 56-60, M

@Gloomy

you have no idea how this country was founded & works
you probably think were a democracy
the civil war was a struggle between the rights of the states & the federal governmet
im NOT going to give you a lesson in history
im not going to reply because .................................................................

Gloomy · F

@pdockal You are a Republic and (supposed to be) a democracy

pdockal · 56-60, M

@Gloomy

Where are you from

4meAndyou · F

Nothing is free. Education, most especially. Parents pay State taxes to fund the public schools in their local areas, and then the schools, and then the federal government subsidizes the schools, using the parents FEDERAL taxes. IF things were right in our world, that money could and should follow the child, if the parents want to enroll the child in a parochial or private school. THAT should be a choice.

The quality of education in public schools is swirling down the toilet in urban areas across the nation. My own experience, however, is that if one's parents are diligent and nag constantly about homework and assist with big projects and really involve themselves, the students will do MUCH better...even in a public schools.

ABCDEF7 · M

In my city/state the quality of education was not good, so my parents got my admitted to private school. Although the fees was high as per my father's income, but my parents valued education for children more than their luxuries & desires. I can say it's part of our culture.

The education has become a business. According to me the solution to the problem you are pointing is that people of your city/state should unite to make the quality of government subsidized school education an issue in the elections. Then only there are few chances that it might work, because the private school industry will see it as a threat to their businesses and will try their best against this movement.

Ryannnnnn · 31-35, M

If you don't invest in the next generation don't expect them to do well is how I look at it.

Splitting schooling by wealth creates and sustains class division, we should be well past this by now.

originnone · 61-69, M

The expensive private colleges don't provide better educations. If you want an education you can get it at a community college or an Ivy League college for vastly different prices. What you won't get at the community colleges are the connections and networks to make you successful in a lot of circles. Education isn't really that expensive. The rest is ridiculously expensive.

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cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

@originnone two-year tech colleges can offer majors where the student can build a good career and even businesses without getting over their head in interest-accruing debt.

originnone · 61-69, M

@cherokeepatti very true. Good education is not overly expensive but "college" is.

originnone · 61-69, M

@Fukfacewillie maybe, but not as much as the cost difference. I went down the road to Purdue...another big ten school....better than community college, but if someone is motivated they can get about the same education....

TheOrionbeltseeker · 36-40, M

Free education has ulterior motives in developing countries.

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cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

@TheOrionbeltseeker They have free education for those who pass a test in Morocco. Still the PhD graduates were protesting every day I was in the capitol city 17 years ago, they want good jobs too. There aren’t enough to go around it seems.

Roundandroundwego · 61-69

@TheOrionbeltseeker true. Americans get that education makes them look like serial killers, colonizers and ecocide planners. Shhhhhhh! No talking people! Sit down and shut up for America. Lights out!

chrisCA · M

@TheOrionbeltseeker If anything, an unethical government would have more to fear from an educated citizenry.

val70 · 51-55

Well, many of today's best schools here in Belgium are still the Roman Catholic ones. Although I do think that it's only a legacy of past sacrifice by different people often religious types. Yes, I do mean nuns here for the best part of them. The issue here nowadays is that one doesn't like the religious bits at all but nevertheless like the air of a certain poshness about it. I wonder what great sacrifice most parents would do today for children's, let along their own children's education. Indeed, start off with that. Is there a real consensus about sharing instead of owing in your own surroundings? Do you think that the school or even the majority of teachers nowadays are and would still put children behind just because they are poor or just marginalized in some way?

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samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@val70 I guess that you didn't buy understand my statement. I NEVER said you generalized. I also never commented on your system. Reread what I wrote. I think you will see we agree in that, in general, education seems to have deteriorated.

val70 · 51-55

@samueltyler2 LOL... first you used "we can't generalize about" and then "I guess that you didn't understand"? Yes, I say, one can have a generalized opinion even about teachers, and I did understand what you wrote. And it's not about our system in the first place, but yes, I did start off my reaction by talking how ours fits into today's situation. Standards are slipping all over the world where social media is somehow getting much more important than just reality out on the playground. One sees it in how teachers need to be connected via the smartphone but don't even bother asking real questions to their students any more. A trouble child these days is just a troublling child. It used to be that there were many more teacher just taking those aside and asking what the troubles were in the first place. Thus one creates many more troubled adults for the future, and yes, it's that simple though generalized

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@val70 I have written many papers in my life, so tend to use the editorial "we." I see that ultimately you agreed with my comments.

MasterDvdC · 70-79, M

Something that is "free" is, generally, only worth what you pay for it.

Roundandroundwego · 61-69

@MasterDvdC if we can't start supplying a number of things as entitlements we'll work ourselves and the ecosystem to death, or simply go without. The costs of privatization are huge.

cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

Even if they are homeschooled it’s still not free, have to buy books and other learning materials. Someone has to pay the bills for school buildings, books, a school nurse, utilities, maintenance, property taxes, lawn care, equipment, lockers, desks, and other such things.

Jungleman · M

everything should be free, but then i'm the sort who always wants somethin for nothin.

cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

@Jungleman honest too

Roundandroundwego · 61-69

@Jungleman you're paying more to avoid entitlements. But inequality probably turns you on,too, along with the poverty.

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AthrillatheHunt · 51-55, M

All you need is an internet connection or library card and you can become very educated .

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AthrillatheHunt · 51-55, M

@Roundandroundwego you just described the Socratic method to a T.

Roundandroundwego · 61-69

@AthrillatheHunt people mean asking questions when they say "Socratic method". I wasn't aware it included the thriving city and the academy. I thought modern people left that out.

AthrillatheHunt · 51-55, M

@Roundandroundwego I’m an educator myself , so I meant it like it should be .

meJess · F

Maybe the question is should education be provided by a political institution or should it be ring fenced to be critical thinking and completely apolitical, providing facts only in all ideologies.

Education is never free, it is pay at point of use, pay in kind or pay through taxation.

Ynotisay · M

I had a public school education and couldn't have asked for anything more. I think, like most things, you get out of it what you put in to it. What troubles me these days is the gray area surrounding charter schools and, particularly home schooling.

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

Tuition in public higher education has increased far more rapidly than inflation. The difference between public and private tuition has shrunk to a great extent. The US needs to reconsider how to invest in the future.

Roundandroundwego · 61-69

Obviously.
We're supposed to learn together. All of us.
Without the dumb kids I can't do it.
I'm not going to do it by myself, either.

pdockal · 56-60, M

It should be bipartisn
The system to pay for it isn't fair
People without kids & homes pay more then renters

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@pdockal that is how society works, despite people fearing socialism, society pays for education by taxing everyone, even when they have no children in school