Mayor of Baltimore announces free Community College (North Beach: credit, loan)

[Cruzincat]

This is one area I hope that the state legislature has to give its approval on before it happens. It's not really free when someone has to pay for it. In this case the jurisdiction trying to provide something "free" is getting a significant amount of its operating budget from the state. That means it will be the rest of the state footing the bill for Community College in Baltimore.

I don't even think it would be a good idea to provide free higher education across the state, since that would draw too many people into taking classes that have no business being in college in the first place, wasting their time and our money.

Obviously, the mayor learned something from Bernie's run from president. Give away "free" everything and people will vote for you.

[North Beach Person]

That's been thrown about for all the CCs the last few years, Baltimore is just the first one to do it (expect it to be part of Rushern's platform for Governor).

Here's the reality, and this is coming from a retired teacher, not everyone can or should go to college, even a Community College unless it's for the vocational programs (which were why CCs were originally started). So what will happen, and I saw this play out dozens or hundreds of times in my 31 years, is you'll have kids go and have to take a couple years of remedial classes in which they'll struggle. They then start classes which actually grant credit and they'll struggle even more. They'll finally give up but they can always say they "went to college". Like in the Toby Keith song, " but never got a degree".

And here's something that slips under the radar, even today in 2017 there are a substantial number of high school graduates, especially boys, who are the first person in their family to graduate.

[TommyCarcetti]

Originally Posted by Cruzincat

This is one area I hope that the state legislature has to give its approval on before it happens. It's not really free when someone has to pay for it. In this case the jurisdiction trying to provide something "free" is getting a significant amount of its operating budget from the state. That means it will be the rest of the state footing the bill for Community College in Baltimore.

I don't even think it would be a good idea to provide free higher education across the state, since that would draw too many people into taking classes that have no business being in college in the first place, wasting their time and our money.

Obviously, the mayor learned something from Bernie's run from president. Give away "free" everything and people will vote for you.

Find me a jurisdiction in Maryland that doesn't get a significant amount of state aid.

[Cruzincat]

All my three kids started out in CC(Anne Arundel) and none of them got it for free. How many jurisdictions have free college for everyone.

[westsideboy]

Such a move state-wide would have significant impact on the enrollment (and therefore budget) of 4 year colleges, especially state schools.

If you can go to a Maryland CC for free, and all the credits transfer to any USM school, why spend more?

I have to say I disagree with the proposal. CC is already open enrollment, so anyone can attend. Expecting folks to either pay for the service, or get a relatively low interest loan to advance themselves isn't unreasonable, IMO.

[TommyCarcetti]

Originally Posted by Cruzincat

All my three kids started out in CC(Anne Arundel) and none of them got it for free. How many jurisdictions have free college for everyone.

If Baltimore City ends up footing the bill, why would you care?

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

...not everyone can or should go to college, even a Community College
unless it's for the vocational programs (which were why CCs were originally started).

Going a bit deeper... those who SHOULD go shouldn't need free deals to ride in on.
---

Lower tuition rates generally however wouldn't go amiss.

The cost of a full years tuition and fees shouldn't require much more than X hours worked at $Y rate;
with X and Y being what an energetic 19yo could accomplish over the course of a summer.

In 1976 the national avg would be in the $2600 range (incl room and board) LINK
MW then was $2.30 Semi skilled (non union construction, waiter, etc) closer to $6 LINK
$2600 ÷ $5 (after taxes) = 520 hrs ÷ 40 (No overtime) = 13 weeks = doable (as many did)

[Cruzincat]

Originally Posted by TommyCarcetti

If Baltimore City ends up footing the bill, why would you care?

If Baltimore City will forgoe state funds being given to them at the same time to be used for general funds, I could care less.

[TommyCarcetti]

Originally Posted by Cruzincat

If Baltimore City will forgoe state funds being given to them at the same time to be used for general funds, I could care less.

It sounds like you're under the impression that Baltimore City is the only jurisdiction in Maryland that receives state aid. If that's the case then I hate to break it to you buddy - you're wrong.

[TommyCarcetti]

Originally Posted by MrRational

Going a bit deeper... those who SHOULD go shouldn't need free deals to ride in on.
---

Lower tuition rates generally however wouldn't go amiss.

The cost of a full years tuition and fees shouldn't require much more than X hours worked at $Y rate;
with X and Y being what an energetic 19yo could accomplish over the course of a summer.

In 1976 the national avg would be in the $2600 range (incl room and board) LINK
MW then was $2.30 Semi skilled (non union construction, waiter, etc) closer to $6 LINK
$2600 ÷ $5 (after taxes) = 520 hrs ÷ 40 (No overtime) = 13 weeks = doable (as many did)

Is this a joke? I'm asking because it's absolutely hilarious.