3/10/24
Today’s blogpost spins from an article in the NYT dated 2/28/24 entitled, “The SAT and the Supreme Court”. The article prompted me to ask an even broader question:
Why shouldn't access to higher education be free to anyone who chooses to avail themselves of it?
According to collegetransitions.com, approximately 44% of Americans 25 and older have attended college and completed their degree programs.
If one googles mission statements from public universities across the United States, one will find language similar to the mission statement from the University of Virginia:
The University of Virginia is a public institution of higher learning guided by a founding vision of discovery, innovation, and development of the full potential of talented students from all walks of life. It serves the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world by developing responsible citizen leaders and professionals; advancing, preserving, and disseminating knowledge; and providing world-class patient care.
We are defined by:
Our enduring commitment to a vibrant and unique residential learning environment marked by the free and collegial exchange of ideas;
Our unwavering support of a collaborative, diverse community bound together by distinctive foundational values of honor, integrity, trust, and respect; and
Our universal dedication to excellence and affordable access.
I posit that if we the people of the United States want to establish a citizenry dedicated to forming a more perfect Union, establishing Justice, insuring domestic Tranquility, providing for the common defense, promoting the general Welfare, and securing the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, then we should demand enough funding from the US government to support higher education to all without discrimination for age, race, creed, or financial standing..
But, as the following chart shows, we the people have not pressured our leaders and representatives to make higher education a priority.
Obviously, we (the government) have the resources to further educate our citizenry. Why should 13% of our national budget go to the "war machine" and only 3% to education? Shouldn't the highest education of all Americans be one of our top priorities? Is there anything more important than the welfare and education of our citizenry? No.
Make Higher Education free to all!
CPW
P.S. The private “elite” colleges could adopt any admission requirements they choose.