Bernie Sanders on Education

[Rolando]

Free tuition at public institutions of higher learning is a terrible idea that would lead to many unintended consequences. Free tuition would require a complete restructuring of the financial aid system, which may be needed, as Elizabeth Warren recognized years ago concerning the student loan program. But a lot of study needs to go into the issue. It's a topic to be discussed, but even if Bernie were elected, he would find it very difficult to move such a plan through Congress.

[Thinkingabout]

1. Education is very important. If it was free then the faculty would not get paid and therefore

On one to teach. I am pretty sure the college graduates are going to seek paying jobs, then those who teach them needs compensation.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

2. So, despite the title, what you're posting is not Bernie Sanders on education, but actually

your criticism of what Bernie has said about one facet of potential change to higher education.

I have a framed certificate from the early 1900s that is a coupon for a free degree at my alma mater. At various times in the past, certain colleges have been free or far far far cheaper. It used to be possible for students to work part-time and make enough to pay their way through college, as well as keep themselves fed, clothed, and housed.

As to your last sentence, anyone elected is going to find it 'very difficult to move' any worthwhile plan through Congress as long as Republicans control Congress.

[Rolando]

8. How about working one's way through college?

Part of a long story: at first I worked for 50 cents an hour. Tuition was virtually free (about $25 a semester), but I needed money for food. Later, I transferred to a university closer to home so that I could commute. That was 1951 at Baylor University. The tuition was $270 a year. I think it is probably now 100 times that. According to those comparisons, I would need to earn $50 an hour today. That's why people earning minimum wage cannot go to college without assuming outrageous debt.

Second item: later, as a graduate student I attended Rice University, which had $0 tuition. But Rice Institute had been founded shortly after the turn of the century by William Marsh Rice, who stipulated that the school was for white males only. By the mid-1960s, the school was losing grant money because there was no tuition, which, as I remember was over $800 a course. I didn't pay it because I was a teaching assistant, but other students went the "financial aid" route.

As for the post from a person with years of college teaching behind him. Thirty-five is more, and I've seen all the changes occasioned by changes in society (such as the Vietnam war). And there came a time when some students seemed to think they were "buying" a degree. For some it was a bad investment.

[NYC_SKP]

3. First, yes it would, second you have no link, I don't think he's said these things, show a link

Or give it up.

Bernie Sanders' Campaign Issues Truly Extraordinary Campaign Plank
The Vermont independent wants Americans to own the businesses they work at by creating worker co-ops.

After his presidential announcement this week, many wondered how Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) would distinguish himself from the other candidates running in the Democratic primary.

With his newly-published issues page, he offers some clues.

Among the 12 platform planks that he published there are several traditional ideas such as rebuilding American infrastructure and guaranteeing health care to all. But the very last platform offers a genuinely fresh idea: boosting America's worker co-ops.

The Sanders campaign writes:

We need to develop new economic models to increase job creation and productivity. Instead of giving huge tax breaks to corporations which ship our jobs to China and other low-wage countries, we need to provide assistance to workers who want to purchase their own businesses by establishing worker-owned cooperatives. Study after study shows that when workers have an ownership stake in the businesses they work for, productivity goes up, absenteeism goes down and employees are much more satisfied with their jobs.

more at: http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/bernie-sanders-campaign-issues-truly-extraordinary-campaign-plank-0

[djean111]

4. Terrible idea? Really? Yes, a lot of study to it - but start the conversation.

Instead of assuming that there would then be no money for teachers, why not look at using tax money for something besides war?

[tazkcmo]

5. If it's difficult

it's probably worth doing. We wouldn't be the first just like with single payer health care where we're pretty much the last. BTW, NOTHING is free but I'm sure you know this. Even our sainted POTUS has proposed free Community College tuition. Personally, I feel if our youth are our more important resource then it's past time to put our money where our mouth is other wise is like those despicable "Support Our Troops" stickers I see on my way to the VA only to be turned away because their budget ran out.

[PowerToThePeople]

6. Terrible idea?

enjoy your stay.

[mike_c]

7. with 25+ years of experience in higher education, I respectfully disagree with you....