"Those people" Where do they get a free education? K-12 yes, but in most places a high school education makes it pretty difficult to get yourself to a living wage. No one I know who lives in those circumstances gets a free college education. They may qualify for some grants, but rarely does anyone receive enough financial aid to go to school for free.
I have seen multiple references on here to things like "those people" or "I'm glad they get a handout" Can we try and remember that these are actual human beings who may struggling in ways that you cannot even imagine? Can those of us who are in better financial circumstances please remember that there but for the grace of God, you might be in their shoes before we make blanket statements about "those people?"
I had to look back to see what prompted me to write that item. Looking back, I see I was responding to someone else's comment:
I was talking about the people who make min wage, live in govt housing, no phone, no internet/cable etc. beater car to get to their crappy job.
And what I answered was:
Those people have it MUCH harder, but at least in America they get a free education, they can qualify for Pell grants, and they have a chance to work their way up the ladder. Not easy -- not easy by any means -- but possible.
You're bristling at the phrasing of "those people", but I stand by my comment, which is about education being the way out of poverty. Yes, it is very hard to grow up in a minimum wage household, depending on government benefits, etc. BUT at least today a kid who grows up that way gets a free education. Across history, that hasn't always been true.
Sounds like you're not very up-to-date on educational benefits these days:
- A student of average ability can opt for the Early College High School -- I think they're available everywhere now; we have three such programs in our county alone. That allows a high school student to graduate with a high school diploma AND an associate's degree in four years.
- Dual enrollment between the high school and the community college is a completely different program available to juniors and seniors; it allows students to take classes /get ahead on college courses while they're still in high school. This costs nothing.
- We offer a variety of classes in trades in high school: A student can graduate with a CNA license, a cosmetology license, or a certification that shows s/he is qualified to work in mechanics or electronics.
- Every student in our county has a Chromebook, and those who don't have reliable internet are given a "hot spot". I don't really understand "hot spots", but my students do.
Two last comments:
- A few days ago I ran in to one of my old students (a girl who was very, very poor) working in a restaurant, and she told me she's in her last semester of community college /is already accepted to university for the fall and has her finances firmly in hand. She reminded me that I'd talked her through how to complete the FAFSA, how to choose classes at community college -- she said it had made a great deal of difference in her life.
- Last thought, as for "there but for the grace of God" is ironic when directed at me -- I WAS one of "those people" growing up. My father abandoned us when I was eleven, we lived on my grandparents' farm without cost, and were dependent upon various government programs. I can tell you plenty of stories about putting cardboard into shoes, saving up for eyeglasses, sharing meds with a sibling, wearing coats indoors for lack of heat, going hungry, pretending I didn't want to attend school events ... I'll be glad to tell you about it. I got out of that situation through education, as did three of my four siblings. Pell grant, lots of work, etc. So, yes, I do believe strongly in education, and today much more is available.