GUEST BELI-BLOGGER LEE MCD: MICRO-MANAGING OUR COLLEGES

Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act is before Congress again. Mikal & I, along with a bevy of fellow students, worked on this issue in the early 90's when we were in college. And, as I remember it, we were quite passionate about this - and many other issues. Access to quality, affordable, and rewarding higher education remains an important issue to me. I grew up very poor in a rural part of southwest Missouri and obtained an Ivy League education, despite discouragement from counselors and others.

House Republicans want to restrict federal money to college & universities who raise tuition at a rate higher than inflation. See the New York Times story on this. A couple of things strike me as odd about this. First, these Republican legislators are trying to micromanage the college budgeting process. Second, this seems to me to be the antithesis of traditional Republican ideas of anti-federalism. The NY Times article makes some very good points. This REGULATION probably will not pass, but it's worth noting how some people in our Congress are thinking and how they are willing to act on that thinking.

Lee, I have not really formed an opinion about this, but I have put four kids through college. I have seen tuitions jump higher. My last child, who is still in college, experience three tuition hikes in one year. This was tough because it was not budgeted into our decision process. We did get around it by having him sit out a semester and establish residency. It wasn't a bad lesson for him either. I do, however, have a lot of sympathy for those, like youself that couldn't afford a "quality" or even a state education. What is the answer? I have many teacher friends who can't afford to send their kids anymore. I tell them to send them out of state (Carolina or Arizona or other low cost state) to establish residency. Apply to college. I know that there are a couple of good places online to find those state. That still doesn't solve the problem. Education has skyrocketed beyond people's well planned reserves. What's a parent to do?

Lee: Thanks for bringing this to our attention. I too find it odd that Congress is attempting to micromanage US higher education. If Congress is serious about managing anything whatsoever related to higher ed, they should spend some time and energy on college athletics and related governing bodies like the NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA (I know, I know, that's another conversation in and of itself). Anyway, as soon as I heard about Howie McKeonís (R-CA) bill, I couldn't help but think the exact same thing that the NYT article points out ñ namely that the legislation would essentially and eventually hurt the very students that McKeon purports to protect in the first place. Not surprisingly, I like the idea of limiting tuition increases, but rather than doing so thru punitive measures, can't we come up with a reward system of some sort?

Lee:

I'm not too familiar with the legislation, but as a libertarian my first reaction is "THEY CAN REGULATE MY STATE'S COLLEGE WHEN THEY PRY IT FROM MY COLD, DEAD. . ." Wait, that's a different issue. . . Seriously, Horatio McDaniel, you are the exception to the rule. (That's why we love ya, Lee.) Either that or for the endless entertainment. . .

"I'm not just trying to make enemies for nothing," said Mr. McKeon, chairman of a subcommittee that has taken up the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. "What I'm hoping is that we really get the attention of thousands of schools across the country, that they understand that this is a serious issue."

That is analogous to me telling my children that they better straighten up and yes, I'm really serious this time.

Education should be getting less expensive. Technology breaks down barriers to learning and facilitates transfer if ideas. Whatever happened to MIT's plans to offer their curriculum online, for free??

Higher electricity bills? Rising cost of employee benefits? There must be other reasons for tuition cost spikes. Therein lies the real issue. Texas recently "froze" new entrants into the Texas Tomorrow fund, an savings account that parents pay into today in exchange for a fully funded 4 yr. education for their kids. This was really irksome, as I was attempting to enter my kiddos in this program. I guess they suspect that future unpredictable education costs might cause enormous shortfalls when the next crop of students are ready for college.

The real question is, "What is unique about the 25% of schools that would be in violation of this bill's provisions if it were enacted today?"

Hmmm. More will be revealed.

Probably what's unique is their desire and ability to provide an education and learning environment on their own terms for their own constituencies. Private education should remain private and public education should be affordable, accessible, and accomodating.

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