More than 1M fewer students are in college, the lowest numbers in 50 years

Re:More than 1M fewer students are in college, the lowest nu... by contravariant on Thursday January 13, 2022 @11:18AM (#29922436)

Some of the 'let's saddle students with debt' vibe seems to have pollinated the Netherlands, though for reasons that I applaud but don't quite understand pretty much everyone now considers it a bad idea.

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Re:More than 1M fewer students are in college, the lowest nu... by mettamage on Thursday January 13, 2022 @11:29AM (#29922629)

I have no data, I'm simply stating my beliefs to give you an understanding, since I feel I'm one of the people you happen to be surprised about.

Free education levels the playing field. Moreover, I feel guilt. I have been a beneficiary of free education. Free transport, free college tuition, free books and some paid assistance with living somewhere else. Coming from a working class family it has given me an amazing boost in:

* Career (master computer science)

* Spiritual knowledge (one Buddhism course was enough)

* Outlook on the world

* Network

University isn't perfect, but if I wasn't given this chance then I would not be able to replicate certain pivotal experiences simply by using the internet and my own wit. In that sense, I still believe it levels the playing field by quite a bit.

School was always meant as the great equalizer and I think it still should be, as imperfect as it is.

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