Are any candidates for president stealing Howard Dean's plan to change how kids pay for college?

[yurbud]

Since he isn't running, I'm sure he wouldn't mind, and it would be a big help to kids who now have to look forward to working their way through college at McDonald's, then still building up a massive debt that is more than my parents used to pay for a house.

I'm 43, and my original student loan debt of $50,000 has mushroomed to $100K. Ironically, this is partly because I have chosen to TEACH college, where most jobs are part time and mostly offer no health insurance (one of my employers finally gave me insurance after eight years, but for myself only--no family allowed). Consequently, I have gaps in income and a car repair or other emergency means that loan payment has to wait and the interest builds up higher.

Maybe the banks were afraid people were getting smart about credit cards and figured private student loans was the next best way to indenture future generations of Americans.

"The Dean College Commitment"

His plan, the Dean College Commitment, provides hope to high school students and their families by broadening access to college by ensuring that, not later than middle school, students would develop a plan for their futures, including the courses they need to take in high school; families would receive an advance determination of their eligibility for federal financial aid; and they would have assistance in developing a savings plan for college expenses.

Then, upon graduating from high school, students would:

Have access to $10,000 per year for postsecondary education-either traditional college or high-skills career training.

Never have to pay more than 10% of their income after college on student loan payments (and even less if they enter service fields like nursing or teaching in high need ares).
And, if they work and make these loan payments for 10 years the loans will be paid in full.
Those who enter public service professions will get a special bonus: Nurses, teachers, social workers, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians in high need areas would never pay more than 7 percent of their income.

The plan would also benefit Americans already in the workforce who are still making payments on student loans. If your payments on your undergraduate loans are more than 10% of your income, you will be eligible for a tax credit.

In addition to the public service incentives, Dean will boost opportunities for Americans to serve their communities while earning additional money for education, by increasing the number of AmeriCorps positions to 250,000. Of these, 50,000 will be dedicated to new "Frontline" public safety national service programs, which will provide opportunities for young Americans to serve for two years as firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and forest and park service rangers, enhancing our nation's safety and security.

http://gendeanau.blogspot.com/2003_11_13_gendeanau_archive.html

[PDJane]

1. I firmly believe that education should be a government service.

From the pre-kindergarten stage to the post-graduate stage, it should be paid for from tax revenue.

Imagine the civilized society that levelling the playing field would engender.

[yurbud]

5. I think that's why it ISN'T done. We had free college in California and Reagan ended it saying

"Why should I pay for somebody to go to school when it's just going to make them disagree with what I believe?"

[tekisui]

2. Richardson proposed the year of service for school debt relief.

[BlooInBloo]

3. Teaching *community* college, I take it?

[yurbud]

4. yep, though they have similar HR practices at four year schools

[BlooInBloo]

6. Maybe they do for instructors and such, but it's not remotely similar for asst profs. or above.

EDIT: But it sucks for whomever is getting the short end of that stick.

[yurbud]

7. that's how it's similar: tenure and non-tenure track

no job security and all the grunt classes for non-tenure track, the easy preps and motivated students for the tenure-track.