Minnesota Gives Coursera the Boot, Citing a Decades-Old Law (insuring, credit)

[rcsteiner]

I just read this article this morning, and it seems that the State of Minnesota has an issue with a web-based education provider because it hasn't been approved in the State of Minnesota.

Minnesota Gives Coursera the Boot, Citing a Decades-Old Law - Wired Campus - The Chronicle of Higher Education

Is this a good thing for prospective Minnesota students or not? This seems like a bill which doesn't work well in the modern connected world ... at least to me.

Thoughts?

[GBCommenter]

No, it is not a good law. It is based on either:

1) the premise you are unable to make decisions about your own life and education so the ever-loving government will make them for you, for your own good or the "common good". This is, of course, based upon the ironic premise that individuals are inherently corrupt or stupid but somehow government agencies are run by individuals of a different cloth and makeup that are perfectly wise and completely altruistic.

2) Alternately (or more likely jointly), it serves to provide a form of cronyism to protect the politically favored groups or companies that cut whatever backroom deals with whatever politicians and bureaucrats.

Educational institutions should be able to provide the education they wish and seek whatever private accreditations they think they need to validate them as an educational institution (however institution is being defined) that provides a product worth purchasing.

[GBCommenter]

It seems Minnesota decides "not to suck after all"...

Minnesota Decides Not to Suck After All, Legalizes Free Online College Courses - Hit & Run : Reason.com

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by GBCommenter

It seems Minnesota decides "not to suck after all"...

Minnesota Decides Not to Suck After All, Legalizes Free Online College Courses - Hit & Run : Reason.com

That's how a government agency should function. Wow. I'm stunned by the quick response.

[Beenhere4ever]

I don't have a problem with course offerings. Where I DO have a problem is the government insuring loans so that students can enroll at "schools" that exist to feed at a government trough. There are dozens of them and you are constantly barraged by their adds on TV. They suck guaranteed money like a Hoover and don't provide any value to the students at all. Which, of course, leads to loan defaults. There must be standards met to qualify for a guaranteed loan. If its just a bank taking risks on its own, fine. But if the taxpayer is the backstop for a school loan, then hanging a shingle saying "presto, I'm a school" is not permissible.

[GBCommenter]

Originally Posted by Beenhere4ever

I don't have a problem with course offerings. Where I DO have a problem is the government insuring loans so that students can enroll at "schools" that exist to feed at a government trough. There are dozens of them and you are constantly barraged by their adds on TV. They suck guaranteed money like a Hoover and don't provide any value to the students at all. Which, of course, leads to loan defaults. There must be standards met to qualify for a guaranteed loan. If its just a bank taking risks on its own, fine. But if the taxpayer is the backstop for a school loan, then hanging a shingle saying "presto, I'm a school" is not permissible.

The concern of loan defaults and obtaining loans to attend schools that provide questionable value is valid, though it's a concern in general for all schools including University of Minnesota and private schools of various accreditation. There are plenty of degrees that one can obtain at the U and private schools that will be unlikely to provide any meaningful job. I don't begrudge education for its own sake, but if we are going to criticize the questionable schools receiving government loans, we should do the same in general - especially when there are plenty of articles indicating the next big "bust" will be mass defaulting on school loans.

I will also criticize a society that places unjustified relevance to a piece of paper equaling being "qualified" for a job. Too many companies use a degree far too heavily.

Frankly, leave it to the banks to provide private loans and government to do the basics it is supposed to do. Banks would be a lot more careful in the loans they provide and likely students would take the $60,000 loan for a piece of paper a lot more seriously (or decide that maybe they can get a good job via a tech school.)