My hope is that 10 years from now, when my son is 18, and leaving for college,

[ehrnst]

I can tell him that the climb out of hell started the year that he was in third grade.

I want to be able to say, "We started the year worried about being able to afford your tuition to college - even though we had saved & started a 529 account. We were thinking about leaving the country if it stayed on the path it was on. Your dad and I talked about the undocumented immigrants that we saw every day at the day laborer pick up site, and wondered if we had their courage and their will to sacrifice for their children - to leave their home and go start all over again in a far off land.

Then the people stood up in the Middle East, and spread to the U.S. and across the world.

It was the year that people finally said 'ENOUGH' and a new era of reform started. It was slow at first, but people went to the polls in droves in 2012.

The programs instituted by Obama in his second term surprised us all - and we finally got what we hoped for in 2008 from him.

I told my son about what happened 10 years ago in 2001. I left out the part about the slide into the pit that started in January of that year.

I want a different story to tell him 10 years from now.

[Laelth]

1. I hope your wish comes true. n/t

-Laelth

[david_vincent]

2. Ten years from now

the percentage of enrolled undergraduates who are male will be around 35% - 36% nationally, and at many liberal arts colleges it will be around 30%. Let's just hope he DOES leave for college.

[ehrnst]

3. My mom - who went to college while I was growing up - always said

"If you have the grades, you can always find a way to go to college. It may not be the exact one you want, or take just 4 years, but you can do it working and with loans."

I don't know about that anymore.

[david_vincent]

6. There's a whole lot more going on than just grades and finances

Men are flat out refusing to go to college, for a wide range of reasons all mixed together. They just don't want to do it. Sure, the cost aspect is a big factor, but believe me, there's a whole lot happening that's being ignored.

On the question of cost, you might be interested to look up Tom Mortenson's study on "working your way through" in which he proves that, over the decades, it has become increasingly difficult to work your way through college and is now clearly impossible.

My mom worked a half time job while she was in college and that paid for her tuition, books, rent, meals, and as she said, a little bit left over to go to a movie now and then. Those days are gone, gone, gone.

[ehrnst]

11. I know. And contrary to to the point's accusations that I dehumanized day laborers

I am willing to go the distance to help him get an education - even if that means moving to another country where it is more accessible, and starting from scratch if need be.

[Fumesucker]

13. You can get an education right where you are..

You might not get the diploma but the education is out there if you are interested in learning for the sake of learning.

With the possible end of the public library system that may not be true forever but it's true right now for the genuinely motivated individual.

[ehrnst]

14. I know - my son may choose not to go to college at all.

I respect that. But if he wants to go, then I want to do what I can to make that work. Many obstacles are in place here, and it looks like more are coming.

[Fumesucker]

16. My daughter did some online coursework, never got a degree but it seems to have helped her..

She recently changed jobs with a substantial increase in salary and a more responsible position that apparently is going to include international travel.

She doesn't have a degree but she's very well spoken and a self assured, take charge sort of person, that seems to count for a lot.

Anyhow, what I heard from her was that many employers appreciate people who have completed online degrees because it's actually harder to stick with than going to school.

I realize it's anecdata but I believe there's some truth to it.

[ehrnst]

15. Self Delete - Dupe

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[ehrnst]

5. What makes you say that??

I want better for my son, like those who came here from violence torn Mexico.

They have a huge amount of courage to come here - as I said in my post.

I have considered moving to Australia, where I have friends, I have visited, and feel like there is a culture that cares for families more than here. Many families lose their homes here when they get a serious illness, and women's rights are being rolled back.

How is that ironic or "almost dehumanizing" those who came here?

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

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[ehrnst]

8. So you think that people who immigrate here consider those who choose to stay to be beneath them.

Because that's your implication.

I have no idea where the you get the idea that wanting better for my son than what I have is some sort of slam against people who are fine with what my son has.

I guess the fact that I got a master's degree means that I consider my relatives who didn't "less than human," by your logic.

How could I DARE aspire to a different life that would make me happier? How INSULTING.

Read your posts.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

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[ehrnst]

10. Perhaps you think that the OWS are whiners as well? After all,

they are lamenting the situation in this country that so many others see such opportunity, and therefore insulting the day laborers with their dissatisfaction with all they have, right?

Yes, I called getting a master's degree better than a GED. I guess that makes me ungrateful, eh? I guess, I should just go get a job at MacDonalds, to prove that I admire people that got a GED and decided not to go to college - like other members of my family. How DARE I want more than they have or wanted to have, right?

And yes, I was talking about the COURAGE to leave and do that in another country to get a better life for my son - doing what it took. And where do you get off saying that I'm not willing to work 60 hours a week doing minimum wage work? If college becomes so expensive here that only the elite can go, and my son wants to go, I will do that.

And YES I can lament the situation in this country, and my son's future, even though I don't suffer the conditions of the day laborers.

Why do you think that I have no business lamenting the situation in this country unless I'm suffering adequately - in your mind?

Are you resentful of others who are doing better than you are?

[ehrnst]

12. Or maybe the US is closer than Canada or Australia - where they would rather go.

[riderinthestorm]

17. It will probably take you about 10 years to get approved to move to and work in Australia

I'm not even sure how many Americans they are taking but it's limited and usually highly sought after specialist skills. Same with other desirable countries like Canada etc.

If you are serious, you should start the application process now. It will take a while