Comments on: Higher Spending on Higher Ed? http://www.buckeyeinstitute.org/blog/2009/07/15/higher-spending-on-higher-ed/ Up To The Minute Analysis Of Ohio Public Policy Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:34:40 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.1 hourly 1 By: token liberal http://www.buckeyeinstitute.org/blog/2009/07/15/higher-spending-on-higher-ed/comment-page-1/#comment-4657 token liberal Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:27:44 +0000 http://www.buckeyeinstitute.org/blog/?p=4274#comment-4657 OK--now I've read your critique. Prior to that, as is the trend these days, I had only watched the video. The critique is where this discussion should be, not the crass stupidity experssed by Murray in the video. And... while we are being critical, I seem to remember some research showing that tuition increased (at both public and private colleges) as government financial aid increased. In other words, more government aid did not mean more students getting more help, it meant more colleges getting more money. As you have pointed out, and as anyone touring campuses can see, school administrators now make a lot of money, and college campuses contain gyms and student centers that are the Crystal Palaces of our day. As a parent of two college students (one in private college, one in public), I'm glad they have a nice place to go to school. Still, it is very expensive, and it is easy to see where the money is being spent. As a public policy, I agree with you that colleges, as the recipients of direct and indirect taxpayer subsidies, have not always been true to their mission. OK–now I’ve read your critique. Prior to that, as is the trend these days, I had only watched the video. The critique is where this discussion should be, not the crass stupidity experssed by Murray in the video.

And… while we are being critical, I seem to remember some research showing that tuition increased (at both public and private colleges) as government financial aid increased. In other words, more government aid did not mean more students getting more help, it meant more colleges getting more money.

As you have pointed out, and as anyone touring campuses can see, school administrators now make a lot of money, and college campuses contain gyms and student centers that are the Crystal Palaces of our day.

As a parent of two college students (one in private college, one in public), I’m glad they have a nice place to go to school. Still, it is very expensive, and it is easy to see where the money is being spent. As a public policy, I agree with you that colleges, as the recipients of direct and indirect taxpayer subsidies, have not always been true to their mission.

]]> By: Marc Kilmer http://www.buckeyeinstitute.org/blog/2009/07/15/higher-spending-on-higher-ed/comment-page-1/#comment-4656 Marc Kilmer Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:39:19 +0000 http://www.buckeyeinstitute.org/blog/?p=4274#comment-4656 TL, I think the point is that when you have almost half of those who attend college failing to graduate within six years, something is wrong with our current system. Obviously a lot of people are starting school and then not completing it. Many of those are saddled with student loans that they otherwise would not have had. Revising our higher education system to better serve the needs of students should be our priority. Right now, as the critique authored by Dr. Vedder and myself points out, the Board of Regents in Ohio seems more concerned with serving the desires of institutions rather than the needs of students. This institutional focus should be eliminated and students should be put first. TL, I think the point is that when you have almost half of those who attend college failing to graduate within six years, something is wrong with our current system. Obviously a lot of people are starting school and then not completing it. Many of those are saddled with student loans that they otherwise would not have had. Revising our higher education system to better serve the needs of students should be our priority.

Right now, as the critique authored by Dr. Vedder and myself points out, the Board of Regents in Ohio seems more concerned with serving the desires of institutions rather than the needs of students. This institutional focus should be eliminated and students should be put first.

]]> By: token liberal http://www.buckeyeinstitute.org/blog/2009/07/15/higher-spending-on-higher-ed/comment-page-1/#comment-4654 token liberal Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:10:19 +0000 http://www.buckeyeinstitute.org/blog/?p=4274#comment-4654 Wow! I understand that reasonable people can (and do!) disagree about the best way to to pay for education, and the federal government's appropriate role, etc... But really--the thesis of this video is the 50% of kids are too stupid to go to college! The only way America can compete in the new world economy is to have an educated workforce. We will never be able to compete with the third world in price, so it has to be quaility. In fact, it seems as though the folks at BI are fully committed to quality education for all, and have been huge advocates of school choice (100% government funded school choice, I might add). But now this? Wow! I understand that reasonable people can (and do!) disagree about the best way to to pay for education, and the federal government’s appropriate role, etc… But really–the thesis of this video is the 50% of kids are too stupid to go to college!

The only way America can compete in the new world economy is to have an educated workforce. We will never be able to compete with the third world in price, so it has to be quaility.

In fact, it seems as though the folks at BI are fully committed to quality education for all, and have been huge advocates of school choice (100% government funded school choice, I might add).

But now this?

]]> By: Karen http://www.buckeyeinstitute.org/blog/2009/07/15/higher-spending-on-higher-ed/comment-page-1/#comment-4653 Karen Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:27:12 +0000 http://www.buckeyeinstitute.org/blog/?p=4274#comment-4653 Starting out with the party atmosphere is definitely a bit much. I do agree however that college is not for everyone nor is it my responsibility to send anyone to college. I paid for my college and paid for both of my children to go to college. No federal, state or local money. But what is needed is for all college curriculum to be revamped. Some of the totally inane courses are a waste of time and money. Focus on the courses needed for the degree. No more basket weaving, white water rafting and religion courses unless they are DIRECTLY related to the final degree. Continue on with cutting the time it takes to get a degree by cutting the courses needed. Continue on with cutting pay to professors who teach one class a week but are paid 100K+ per year to do what....give speeches??? More ways to make it affordable, quit reteaching what the kids should have learned in high school. If they are so stupid they need to be retaught what they just learned, they should not be in college. College is not for remedial training. College financial assistance should go this way........the student pays the first semester. If they pass all of their courses with a minimum C, they will get reimbursed by the government. If they don't pass, they will get zero reimbursement. When they try hard, they get rewarded then they can take that money and pay for the next semester and so on and so forth. Then government only pays for those who try hard, get the grade and want to move one. Next, kids should not go to college at 18 unless they want to pay for it themselves. There's an idea!! Work and go to school part time. At 18 kids are stupid. I would love to see that government provides for kids who want to volunteer, be interns, join the PeaceCorps or other such group are covered by insurance until they are 20 yrs old then they are a bit more mature and can go to college. Many probably will not go. Finally, here's an idea. Parents work, kids work and school is done a bit at a time while it is paid for by actual cash from the family. I did mine in 6 years working full time and going to school part time. No more government money to help college presidents make hundreds of thousands of dollars in salary with free housing and travel. Get rid of the sports in college and get rid of them in high school. Focus on eduation. Sports must be a totally separate entity in college and high school. Get real America. A college degree means nothing now that every moron can get one. Starting out with the party atmosphere is definitely a bit much. I do agree however that college is not for everyone nor is it my responsibility to send anyone to college. I paid for my college and paid for both of my children to go to college. No federal, state or local money.

But what is needed is for all college curriculum to be revamped. Some of the totally inane courses are a waste of time and money. Focus on the courses needed for the degree. No more basket weaving, white water rafting and religion courses unless they are DIRECTLY related to the final degree. Continue on with cutting the time it takes to get a degree by cutting the courses needed.

Continue on with cutting pay to professors who teach one class a week but are paid 100K+ per year to do what….give speeches???

More ways to make it affordable, quit reteaching what the kids should have learned in high school. If they are so stupid they need to be retaught what they just learned, they should not be in college. College is not for remedial training.

College financial assistance should go this way……..the student pays the first semester. If they pass all of their courses with a minimum C, they will get reimbursed by the government. If they don’t pass, they will get zero reimbursement. When they try hard, they get rewarded then they can take that money and pay for the next semester and so on and so forth. Then government only pays for those who try hard, get the grade and want to move one.

Next, kids should not go to college at 18 unless they want to pay for it themselves. There’s an idea!! Work and go to school part time. At 18 kids are stupid. I would love to see that government provides for kids who want to volunteer, be interns, join the PeaceCorps or other such group are covered by insurance until they are 20 yrs old then they are a bit more mature and can go to college. Many probably will not go.

Finally, here’s an idea. Parents work, kids work and school is done a bit at a time while it is paid for by actual cash from the family. I did mine in 6 years working full time and going to school part time.

No more government money to help college presidents make hundreds of thousands of dollars in salary with free housing and travel. Get rid of the sports in college and get rid of them in high school. Focus on eduation. Sports must be a totally separate entity in college and high school.

Get real America. A college degree means nothing now that every moron can get one.

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