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I think there is a trilemma in uni funding: 1. Anyone can receive funds, regardless of cost/financial sense. 2. Anyone can receive funds, regardless of academ
by Gunax 4y ago
I think there is a trilemma in uni funding:
1. Anyone can receive funds, regardless of cost/financial sense.
2. Anyone can receive funds, regardless of academic performance.
3. Burden on the state will be low.
There has to be a filter somewhere. Germany (and others) chose 1 & 3. It's cheap, but only available for good students (but tell me if I am wrong, I am not German).
For historical reasons, this is largely untenable in the USA: if they chose the same, it would be seen as enhancing privilege (both economic and ethnic) and a transfer from poor -> rich. Americans want to believe that education is a means to racial equality, a restoration of historical wrongs, and a land of opportunity.
America is forced to offer loans for all students at all institutions, even when they don't really believe it will be beneficial because of cultural ethos, and choose 1 & 2.
Fixing grade school education would go a long way to remedy this. Americans don't really believe in the fairness of their grade schools, and are unwilling to deny uni to students based on their grade school performance.
- nonethewiser 4y ago> For historical reasons, this is largely untenable in the USA: if they chose the same, it would be seen as enhancing privilege (both economic and ethnic) and a transfer from poor -> rich. Devils advocate - how is the current situation any different? Education has skyrocketed in price which disproportionately disadvantages people with less. I totally take your point and think you're right about picking 2 of the 3. It's just that the people who think that way aren't considering the larger picture (and probably never will).