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sabra

(30,406 posts)
Sun Dec 6, 2020, 10:33 PM Dec 2020

As first lady, Jill Biden plans to push for debt-free community college

Source: Yahoo News

WASHINGTON — Dr. Jill Biden has devoted her life to the field of education, and that won’t change when she becomes first lady next month. According to a source close to her, Biden will advocate for debt-free community college.

Dr. Martha Kanter, who served as under secretary of education in the Obama administration and who has known Biden for more than a decade, said she has worked hard to make debt-free community college a reality.

“That is what she would like to see. We have often talked about community colleges as the unsung heroes,” Kanter said in a conversation with Yahoo News, adding that Biden has strived “to really help people understand the value proposition and the return on investment and why it’s important.”

Along with promoting debt-free community college, Biden plans to champion other aspects of the education platform her husband, President-elect Joe Biden, put forth during his campaign for the White House.

Read more: https://news.yahoo.com/as-first-lady-jill-biden-plans-to-push-for-debtfree-community-college-180034077.html

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As first lady, Jill Biden plans to push for debt-free community college (Original Post) sabra Dec 2020 OP
I have often thought if this. I support such a thing. demigoddess Dec 2020 #1
There should be a connection between vocational training and the community colleges JI7 Dec 2020 #5
Most community colleges are very strong PoindexterOglethorpe Dec 2020 #11
They should require the students to enroll in and pass Civics... Tommymac Dec 2020 #2
Was required in NY State a 'few' years ago, when I attended. elleng Dec 2020 #8
Support 100%. I do think a lot of states have grants and scholarships Hoyt Dec 2020 #3
K&R betsuni Dec 2020 #4
Wonderful idea. It's clearly time to start working on this. It's needed, so much. Thank you. Judi Lynn Dec 2020 #6
I started college in 1965 at what was then called a junior college. At that time in California... Hekate Dec 2020 #7
Me too, a bit later. That was the New Deal era of Democratic domination. Hortensis Dec 2020 #12
My mom was valedictorian of her small high school in West Virginia but Tanuki Dec 2020 #19
the right hates this because those with a college education tend to vote blue TomDaisy Dec 2020 #9
This I support Sgent Dec 2020 #10
Great! We've done it before, we can certainly do it again. nt Hortensis Dec 2020 #13
This sounds perfectly reasonable. An additional two years of public education... NurseJackie Dec 2020 #14
Outstanding idea! Yeehah Dec 2020 #15
In deed!! This will help millions of low income & middle class families, given college expenses are onetexan Dec 2020 #17
Very skills based, but limited by the economic footprint of the community bucolic_frolic Dec 2020 #16
Maybe Rebl2 Dec 2020 #18

JI7

(91,311 posts)
5. There should be a connection between vocational training and the community colleges
Sun Dec 6, 2020, 11:07 PM
Dec 2020

The first place many students would look to would be community colleges so at the same time they look into it they should get info for vocational training .

Whatever financial benefits that students get should apply to the vocational programs if that's what they want.

If they decide on the vocational training they should still have a few basic courses that all students should take .

PoindexterOglethorpe

(27,160 posts)
11. Most community colleges are very strong
Mon Dec 7, 2020, 01:33 AM
Dec 2020

in vocational training.

I've been frustrated for decades now that young people are encouraged to go for a four year degree, usually with a major that has zero job possibilities, while the community colleges are overlooked.

I've attended a total of 6 different community colleges and public universities, and I an in awe of how amazing the community colleges are. Especially when it comes to things like vocational training, or degrees aimed at a specific job.

And yes, there are always basic courses involved. Trust me on this.

Tommymac

(7,334 posts)
2. They should require the students to enroll in and pass Civics...
Sun Dec 6, 2020, 10:56 PM
Dec 2020

in order to matriculate. (And of coarse toss the Colleges a few more Federal $$$ as an incentive to put it on the curriculum.)
I don't foresee public K-12 teaching it any time soon.

 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
3. Support 100%. I do think a lot of states have grants and scholarships
Sun Dec 6, 2020, 11:02 PM
Dec 2020

that already make this possible. But I’m not as up-to-date as I should be.

Hekate

(96,104 posts)
7. I started college in 1965 at what was then called a junior college. At that time in California...
Mon Dec 7, 2020, 12:45 AM
Dec 2020

...it really was virtually free. What a godsend for the eldest of 4 kids in a blue-collar family.

It should be like that today, and everywhere. This country would be immensely better off.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
12. Me too, a bit later. That was the New Deal era of Democratic domination.
Mon Dec 7, 2020, 01:37 AM
Dec 2020

I was a very poor kid who dropped out of high school, was able to support myself with one full-time job as a waitress, and then to pay for full semesters of classes by writing the kind of checks I wrote at the grocery store. Upward socioeconomic mobility was the norm with just a little industry and average abilities.

People tragically let much of what their parents and grandparents bequeathed them just be taken away.

President Truman thought the wealth division policies of his times would result in almost double the average national income we had in 1980 (still quite good compared to now) -- because the taking away had already started and accelerated after that under the rallying cry of "small government" and "get off the backs of business."

He would have been heartsick and horrified if he'd had any conception of what over half the children born during his administration would allow to happen and/or actively support since 1980.

Tanuki

(15,576 posts)
19. My mom was valedictorian of her small high school in West Virginia but
Mon Dec 7, 2020, 10:21 AM
Dec 2020

college was not an option for her economically. More than 20 years and 4 kids later, she enrolled in a newly opened "junior college" in Maryland, and as it was for you, it was an absolute godsend. That first year gave her confidence and success. The end of the academic year corresponded with my dad's retirement from the Army and they moved back permanently to our hometown in WV, where she completed her education at the local state university (where tuition was phenomenally inexpensive). She then had a productive career as a teacher until she retired, earning a master's degree and beyond. What a difference it made for her, and the many children whose lives she touched as a teacher, to have higher education made accessible and affordable. I am so pleased that the incoming administration will make this a national priority! And how refreshing and inspiring it will be to have a smart, dedicated, thoughtful First Lady again, who will put her shoulder to the wheel to make America a better place for all.

Sgent

(5,858 posts)
10. This I support
Mon Dec 7, 2020, 01:25 AM
Dec 2020

and I'd even support cancelling student loans taken out for CC education (which includes vocational school in the two states I've lived).

I'm less sure about wiping out loans to private four year schools as some have proposed.

NurseJackie

(42,862 posts)
14. This sounds perfectly reasonable. An additional two years of public education...
Mon Dec 7, 2020, 06:20 AM
Dec 2020

... makes a lot more sense than some of the other outrageous proposals being floated around out there.

Yeehah

(5,288 posts)
15. Outstanding idea!
Mon Dec 7, 2020, 07:20 AM
Dec 2020

She will accomplish her goals as a wonderful First Lady!

(and hopefully undo the damage to the Rose Garden)

onetexan

(13,913 posts)
17. In deed!! This will help millions of low income & middle class families, given college expenses are
Mon Dec 7, 2020, 07:58 AM
Dec 2020

so ridiculously expensive, as we all know it should not be. Community colleges are important for many reasons, cost being among the top. It also enables kids to take foundational classes towards a 4-year degree while they explore what they want to study. Case in point:
My son, whose now an architect, left university after his first year and attended community college because he had no idea at that point what he wanted to study. He took several classes in architecture and ended up getting an associate degree at community college prior to returning to university to complete his BS in architecture.

Community college is also important for career training and people looking to retool themselves for another career without amassing alot of debt to get the education. I also like the fact there are smaller classes and smaller campus environment that helps kids adjust to college life before they matriculate to the bigger schools should they choose to go further.

KUDOS to our First Lady Jill Biden!! Really glad she's chosen this as her FLOTUS platform!!

bucolic_frolic

(48,579 posts)
16. Very skills based, but limited by the economic footprint of the community
Mon Dec 7, 2020, 07:44 AM
Dec 2020

Local businesses drive curriculum, often because they supply the faculty, and hire the graduates. So there's not a lot of mismatch between output and job opportunities. Very practical. But will some Boards of Trustees see it as but another opportunity to use a government program to raise tuition?

Rebl2

(15,546 posts)
18. Maybe
Mon Dec 7, 2020, 08:16 AM
Dec 2020

she should be Secretary of Education. Of course I am NOT serious. We have had enough nepotism in the W.H. to last a lifetime. I do agree with this idea of debt free community college.

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