Comments on: Are Children Entitled to a College Degree?

By: latisha

latisha — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 19:47:04 +0000

Normally don

By: gina

gina — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:16:09 +0000

You would be amazed at some of the dumbasses that attend ‘prestigious and highly competitive universities’. Some can’t construct a complete sentence. I can’t imagine what their parents are paying for them to party on long after high school. Soon, everyone will expect an $80.000.00/year salary to turn a widget on the assembly line.

Thank God we still have people who didn’t go to college, but are fine skilled tradesmen.

It’s still possible to earn a good living at something you enjoy without the almighty four-year degree if you are bright and hard-working.

By: max

max — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:19:04 +0000

Great post.People do not realize that education is the best investment…

By: Gail

Gail — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:16:13 +0000

Most families can’t afford to send their children to college, yet many financial magazines, and other media guilt parents into thinking it is their responsibility. I worked my way through college in the 70′s and I expected my children to do what they could. Son #1 didn’t want to go to college initially especially if he had to pay for it. Now years later he is taking several courses a semester while working to supoort himself and wife and taking on student loans to pay for it. Son #2 when to a technical school and is paying that off himself while he works full time. I know they would love it if someone would swoop on down to pay off those loans, but I don’t have the finances to do it and never have had so it is a moot point.

Poster #16 seems to imply that if you choose to have a child that you need to support them for life–phooey. The best thing a parent can do is raise their child to be self-sufficient by the time they graduate high school and for sure by they time they are 21. I have been self-supporting since age 17 and am better for it than thinking my parents would give me handouts all my life.

By: Jackson

Jackson — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 21:37:53 +0000

I’ve thought about this in the past. What I’ve concluded is actually a question:

Did the child ASK to be born? Of course, the answer will always be NO.

Therefore if you, as parents, choose to bring a child into this world, then I submit that it is your duty/ responsibility to have enough financial wherewithal to ensure that you can afford to raise the child adequately and help position them for a good start in their adult life.

“Adequately” is of course open to interpretation but in my view, at a minimum, should mean that the child does not go hungry, is comfortably clothed, has a stable roof to live under, is given opportunities for education and can be helped to partake of child activities/experiences that will help the child grow into a well-rounded adult. Education may or may not include college, which really depends on the capabilities and interests of the child. Alternatively, it may include helping them to learn a trade or other avocation.

The birth of a child should be planned, not relegated to laissez-faire happenstance and/or luck. People have called for economics or financial planning classes for elementary and high school students. I agree and believe that child/family planning information should be included in such classes and that ALL students (male & female) should have to take such classes (and for the record, I am not talking about sex education).

By: Heidi

Heidi — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:49:02 +0000

I sense some sarcasm in the #5 response… at least I hope so…

By: Cindy M

Cindy M — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:30:45 +0000

I think it’s a given that you truly do not appreciate what you do not have to work for in this life. No, mom and dad should not have to foot the entire bill for junior’s college education, have kids learn how money works from the time they’re young. I notice a lot of many wimpy young guys in this country (several in my own family, unfortunately) whose parents busted their humps to put junior through school. Nice degrees and no desire to work, we don’t need more of this attitude. #5 says he wants Obama in office so we can “spread the wealth.” Really, and who’s gonna pay for that??? That’s the bottom line. Who’s gonna pay?

By: Carnival of Debt Reduction #163: KOTOR — Green Panda Treehouse

Carnival of Debt Reduction #163: KOTOR — Green Panda Treehouse — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:19:32 +0000

[...] over the question

By: Miranda

Miranda — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:57:01 +0000

My parents paid for room and board, and my car’s insurance. I paid for tuition, “fun”, and made my car payments. The fact that I knew that I would have to pay my tuition encouraged me to work for scholarships and to choose a school with a more reasonable price tag. I also worked part time. I don’t think that parents have to pay for EVERYTHING. And I certainly think that it is a good idea for college students to pay for some of their education.

Another consideration is that a 4-year degree isn’t for everyone. I think the key is to encourage education in the way of developing some sort of useful skill or trade, even if it is not a college-type skill. There are plenty of trades and skills out there that can be learned through 2 year and 4 year votech programs and apprenticeships.

By: Hilary

Hilary — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:04:12 +0000

Some of the top schools have no-loan financial aid packages (i.e. you basically pay less if you can’t afford it). Harvard was the first school to do this, and it is sort of trickling down to other academic institutions. They don’t want their alums saddled with debt any more than we do. I realize this won’t be an option for many students because of the stellar GPAs, etc. required, but please don’t discourage your kids from dreaming big because of finances.