The Ontario Liberals new tuition plan for post-secondary students is ground-breaking, at least from a Canadian perspective. However, not everyone seems to have the same perspective as I. There is a vocal population out there that is screaming for 'fairness', and 'what about us (individuals from families who are not low-income)?' This me-first attitude is disappointing.
I recently came across the story of Harry Rosen, a millionaire, who offered free tuition for every student from a crime ridden neighbourhood in Florida. As a result of his generous offer, the crime rate in the neighbourhood was cut in half, and the high school graduation rate increased from 25% to nearly 100%.
This is what is missing in all this. This is what needs to be talked about, promoted, and evaluated. Free tuition for low-income families is simply a start, for a better future for all of us. It breaks the cycle of poverty, where a lack of education leads to bleak future with limited employment opportunities. Yes, people do 'succeed' without a post-secondary education, however, the number of individuals who do are limited.
Education opens doors. It reduced crime. It creates more understanding, empathetic, critical citizens. Lower crime rate results in less tax dollars being spent on policing, on social services, and so forth. We must look at the bigger picture here. We cannot take a 'me-first' approach.
-Ragu
Reference:
Wynne, K. (2016, February 29). Free tuition for low income-income students is an investment in our people and Ontario, Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/kathleen-wynne/free-tuition-ontario_b_9347716.html
2 comments:
I decided to make my own blog post about the lower tuition costs in Ontario, as a response to yours. If you have a few minutes, I would love to hear your response. Here's the link:
http://edu5199.blogspot.ca/2016/03/blog-post-7-lower-tuition-costs-in.html
Well, read both arguments. Both of you have their points. I would say that tuition fees should be lowered for all students. Better still, the students with the highest scores should study for free. Then, we will argue that testing marginalizes youth.
In the state-run economy of Soviet times, students studied for free in all levels of education, and they were guaranteed a job placement after graduation. The graduation committee gave them choices, so they were designated to the factories, agriculture sector, etc. across the country. Then, some argued it was not market economy, but there was no unemployment.
I have no answer to your debate, really. I wonder how equality is reachable, and how a state shall be organized to get to that point.
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