Is education a business? We need a revolution.

There is a crisis going on within the U.S. Higher Education system. Here's a mesh of a few of my thoughts--not aiming for anything special.

Students are not being challenged to think critically--or think at all. Youth of this generation have lost their ambition. I think it's plain that if this pattern continues the next generation of America will grow up uninformed about virtually everything. Many students sleepwalk through college and still graduate with a degree (another problem: the grade curve) and they do this having learned nothing. I did this. I know many others who did this.

Faculty is not motivated to care about the quality of their teaching mostly because of two problems: 1) tenure-a well-known issue 2) the faculty at most higher education institutions are not paid very well anymore, or are now only hired part time. This eventually has an effect on the quality of education that is being given as many professors are forced to juggle two or three part time jobs at the same time and because of this, have no sense of loyalty to their employer or students.

In 1972, the U.S. government implemented what is now known as the Federal Pell Grant in order to help low income students get off the street and lower the unemployment rate. When it began, the Pell Grant would pay over 95% of tuition towards a public education. Today I would say the Pell Grant covers maybe 25% of it.

Eventually, with economic recessions combined with bad politics, the government began leaning away from grants and more towards low-interest federal student loans. On top of that, it became a trend to cut education budgets first since educational institutions can actually create a revenue for themselves--by raising tuition and fees. This is a bad idea.

Problems only surmount. Particularly during the the economic recession of 2008 Americans began flocking back to school; especially in response to the rising unemployment rate. Such a explosion in enrollment for public schools made it difficult to accommodate everyone, because of their cut educational budgets. Many institutions were forced to cut faculty, hire part time, (which cuts down the number of classes offered) and alongside that, to increase tuition and fees. What were our students left with? They now have to pay more money, as they stay in school longer, and the longer they stay in school the more their interest accumulates on student debt.

Enter the latest craze: for profit trade schools. Many turn education into a business as they have discovered a new way to finance these institutions. (I'd be interested to know what the reader's opinion on this is:) Wall Street investors sell and buy shares of for profit schools. Is it ethical for education to be considered a business? Not to mention the insanely ridiculous price per credit hour for profits often charge. A program certificate, diploma, or degree at a for profit often costs twice the amount one would pay for an associates degree at a public school-- and for what is most often less quality of an education. These types of institutions prey on potential students by marketing quick programs to complete a degree in 9, 12, or 18 months; hands-on job experience; AND guaranteed career placement. What could be more enticing to an uninformed, first generation college seeking student, who doesn't really even like school? They are sold a product. They are sold education. These students sign papers to take out federal grants, loans, and then private loans, to finance the gap, and end up receiving a piece of paper that usually will not give them the kind of job they were promised. Nor help them pay any of those loans back.

All the while, Wall Street investors make millions as 10% of college students in the U.S. are enrolled in for profit schools, yet owe 50% of the federal student loan debt in America. (Not to mention private loan debt, which is nearly equal to the amount of U.S. credit card debt- $750 million.) So who funds these for profit schools like University of Phoenix, ITT Technical Institute, Devry University, (etc.) and essentially, their multi-billion dollar investors? That would be you and me, the taxpayers.
Don't even get me started on quality of education acquired from these for profit educators.

What can we expect from the future generations of this country if we grow up to be uneducated and in debt? Is this crisis unavoidable or can something be done?

Personally, I think that if I am to avoid the inevitable wreck these future generations may be headed into, the only answer is to rescue my ambition. I must learn to do what the past generations did: work hard at my job, be faithful, and read books & newspapers to educate myself.

Grow some curiosity. Grow some ambition.