(08-10-2016, 01:23 PM)BmorePat87 Wrote: Nearly anyone who can get into college can get a loan to pay for it. I do not think people are prepared enough for college. I think some people go to college when they should not. I think there should be funding for vocational education for those who are capable of holding skilled jobs and do not want to be ripped off by for profit vocational centers. I think having the government pay for college doesn't address why college costs so much.

Funding community college is one thing. If you can succeed there, you can get a lot financial assistance for a 4 year college. I think giving assistance to those who get specific degrees and maintain certain grades is a better idea.

(08-10-2016, 02:04 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: I'm also a fan of revamping education overall. Not everyone needs an academic degree. They are needed byt some, but most people would to better with a professional degree or a trade school or something. The mentality that everyone needs to go to college is something we need to rid ourselves of and that has to start much earlier.

(08-10-2016, 02:36 PM)BmorePat87 Wrote: We have a special high school that you can go to during your junior and senior years. You go there for half the day and take part in special programs that lead to occupational certification when you graduate for some of them. Autotech, engineering, health, biotech, management, hospitality, construction, and various others. It's a good program for my guys (kids with specific learning disabilities, ADHD, high functioning autism) who don't want to go to college but have a lot to offer. 

(08-10-2016, 02:04 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: I'm also a fan of revamping education overall. Not everyone needs an academic degree. They are needed byt some, but most people would to better with a professional degree or a trade school or something. The mentality that everyone needs to go to college is something we need to rid ourselves of and that has to start much earlier.

(08-10-2016, 02:36 PM)BmorePat87 Wrote: We have a special high school that you can go to during your junior and senior years. You go there for half the day and take part in special programs that lead to occupational certification when you graduate for some of them. Autotech, engineering, health, biotech, management, hospitality, construction, and various others. It's a good program for my guys (kids with specific learning disabilities, ADHD, high functioning autism) who don't want to go to college but have a lot to offer. 

(08-10-2016, 02:50 PM)RICHMONDBENGAL_07 Wrote: Not everyone needs to go to college.

(08-10-2016, 02:50 PM)RICHMONDBENGAL_07 Wrote: Completely agree.  College is a huge money racket IMO.  Necessary for some fields, not so much for others.  My mom taught at a  vocational school for 40yrs here in the Cincy area (Great Oaks).  When she started back in the mid-late 70's it was "secretarial" skills and now I think they call it "office professional".  Not everyone needs to go to college.

(08-11-2016, 10:56 AM)PhilHos Wrote: Your mom goes to college.

(08-11-2016, 03:40 PM)RICHMONDBENGAL_07 Wrote: Graduated from Miami U in Oxford OH.   Actually the two of you would get along quite well, she's religious, conservative, and republican.  I still love her though, we just don't talk about politics.

(08-11-2016, 03:06 PM)GMDino Wrote: As others have said:  If these plans included funding for technical school I could get behind them more.

Not everyone should go to college.  No matter how "smart" there are.

(08-11-2016, 05:27 PM)Mike M (the other one) Wrote: Yes, not everyone is cut out for College, Some would rather learn a trade.
If possible, what should happen is before the kids leave School, they should take some kind of personality test to help guide them onto a career path. I took one and mine told me that I loved numbers (which is true) and suggested that I would be happiest as either a Programmer or Accountant. So funny too, cause now I'm a programmer that works closely with accountants..
I know that there is no one test that would solve all of the problems, some people will want to be something other that what it recommends and that's ok, but the goal would be to help steer the kids in a good direction so that they aren't lost for their first year or two trying to figure out what to get a degree in.

(08-11-2016, 05:18 PM)Mike M (the other one) Wrote: Are you pimping you mom?

(08-11-2016, 05:27 PM)Mike M (the other one) Wrote: Yes, not everyone is cut out for College, Some would rather learn a trade.
If possible, what should happen is before the kids leave School, they should take some kind of personality test to help guide them onto a career path. I took one and mine told me that I loved numbers (which is true) and suggested that I would be happiest as either a Programmer or Accountant. So funny too, cause now I'm a programmer that works closely with accountants..
I know that there is no one test that would solve all of the problems, some people will want to be something other that what it recommends and that's ok, but the goal would be to help steer the kids in a good direction so that they aren't lost for their first year or two trying to figure out what to get a degree in.

(08-11-2016, 05:48 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: I know I talk a lot about Germany, but learning a language leads one to learn many things about the country and culture.

Anyway, first there is Grundschule, for ages 6-12. During this time, the teachers get to know the students and their abilities and send them on to (traditionally) one of three options:

Gymnasium - This will take them up until 18 or 19 and is preparatory for university. It is focused more on academics.

Realschule - This takes a student through about age 16 and is a broader focus. Oftentimes this will lead students to a professional degree (like business, nursing, etc.).

Hauptschule - This ends at around 15 or 16 and will often lead a student towards a trade.

Realschule and Hauptschule (and sometimes Gymnasium) students can also go on to a vocational school afterwards. To attend university, you must pass the Abitur, which is administered at the end of Gymnasium as it prepares you for it, but any student can take the exam.

It is more complex than this as there are other types of schools and combination schools and what not. But I have always thought this system was rather interesting and would be great. I don't think it would work in the US, though, because too many people want to believe their child can do anything. The American dream and all that. Also, parents are notoriously blind to their own child's limitations when it comes to education, at least from my experience.

(08-11-2016, 05:27 PM)Mike M (the other one) Wrote: Yes, not everyone is cut out for College, Some would rather learn a trade.
If possible, what should happen is before the kids leave School, they should take some kind of personality test to help guide them onto a career path. I took one and mine told me that I loved numbers (which is true) and suggested that I would be happiest as either a Programmer or Accountant. So funny too, cause now I'm a programmer that works closely with accountants..
I know that there is no one test that would solve all of the problems, some people will want to be something other that what it recommends and that's ok, but the goal would be to help steer the kids in a good direction so that they aren't lost for their first year or two trying to figure out what to get a degree in.

(08-11-2016, 06:26 PM)6andcounting Wrote: Your telling he if I grew up in Germany my schooling from age 6 to 19 would have been nothing but gym class and than I move straight on up to college? Street ball, kickball, and dodge ball for days son!

(08-12-2016, 10:17 AM)JustWinBaby Wrote: It would be an absolute game changer if schools were on the hook for student loans.  In other words, if you can't get a job or the job you can get does not enable you to pay back the loan then THE SCHOOL - and not the taxpayer - should eat the loss.