Looking through several mainstream media sites, I was trying to find an article that suited me tonight. I wasn't really feeling like disagreeing with anyone really so when I came upon an article on education at NBC Politics, I decided to run with it. The main issue the article addresses is the affects of rising higher education costs on students and how the government should be dealing out taxpayer's money for it. Obviously, this is an important topic for many people in school, trying to get back into school, preparing for their children's education, and even those just leaving. The article claims Obama is taking a "tougher" position on the educational system, suggesting that the government should regulate the amount of financial aid being distributed. Each college would basically be getting a score based on the cost of attendance versus the economical value they are creating in their students. This has some worried that it could adversely affect the arts, where the dollar value of a degree may not be as competitive as another degree's.
After reading the article, my first notion was to question whether our government, with its' ballooning debt, should be given any power over the educational system. My initial response was no, but who else can rein in the tuition costs which are indoctrinating youth into the debt society right out of high school? It is a shame that this is where we are as a nation, debt ridden. I think that by the time there is enough change in education or federally that we will have slipped even further from a leader status globally.
The article also brings up a good point saying "that college isn't just to create foot soldiers for industry." I really like this statement because I don't like the feeling of being a pawn in the greater economic machine, I'm a person who doesn't want to have to work my whole life, or even much more of it. But what is the end game? What is our educational system supposed to do for us in the global market? Will 10% more "highly" educated people in the U.S. make us more competitive against the 500% more people in China in the long term? I don't think it will help very much... I think that our future does rely on American education, but not focused on being financially superior to other countries but focused on making America self-sufficient. An example of this would be to not be in debt and actually having a profit that can be used to continually better the country. Of course one could argue that we need more jobs and improved workforce to make the extra money to balance the budget. I think that if we were a little more concerned with progress and our future and not milking every last dollar from oil, for example, we could begin to build a foundation for an independent America again.
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