From
1987 to 2010, the average net tuition for higher education, adjusted for
inflation, rose by 107 percent. The main reason: The government subsidized and
guaranteed student loans. This increased the demand for colleges, which in turn
raised tuitions, making college less available to the poor.
Colleges
hired armies of administrators and built elaborate student centers with gorgeous
swimming pools. But teaching turned into socialist indoctrination. Professors held
America responsible for many of the world’s problems, which is a stretch. Racial
issues were overplayed. Black studies and women’s studies induced students to
consider themselves victims. Students forcibly prevented speakers from expressing
opinions they didn’t like and were not expelled. As to students learning to
become responsible, productive citizens, not so much.
Bernie
Sanders now wants government to pay for all college education, increasing the
demand and raising costs even more. Government officials would call the shots,
making the mess all the worse.
Enough.
Let’s close the Department of Education, drop education subsidies, put more
courses on line, and cut tuitions.
More
apprentice programs would enable young people not suited for college to learn a
job and start earning money right off.
We
need more schools operating for profit. Profits, not government, provide the
incentive for better results and lower costs.
