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Free education and political football

During this week’s State of the Union the president is expected to talk about his plan to make community college free for many, and about how he’s going to pay for it. The news pundits are calling this a political drama. Obama’s idea probably doesn’t have a chance of passing Congress, but it’s the idea that counts. The party’s base wants to see him push ideas they believe in, even if those ideas don’t go anywhere, and, the thinking goes, the move will pay off when the party’s base shows up in droves during the next election cycle.

As Cokie Roberts put it this morning on NPR, “It’s not an economic speech; it’s a political speech.”

How I wish it were about economics, because history has shown just how good free education can be for an economy. Many attribute free education, be it secondary or college education (the latter via the G.I. Bill) as one of the principal drivers for the creation of the middle class in this country. Still, the saying “you get what you pay for” is true for many products and services, and now many feel it applies to education, especially in the post-secondary arena.

In this sense, free actually isn’t a good thing, but the feeling isn’t pervasive. Georgia, for instance, has the HOPE scholarship, which gives anyone who maintains a certain GPA a free ride to state colleges and universities. The scholarship has been wildly successful, even though the state often has a difficult time figuring out how to pay for it.

I’ve spoken with various metal fabrication and welding instructors at community colleges over the years. They’ve told me that many schools promote welding and metal fabrication to people looking for a second career. Some of these people have had serious challenges in life, including previous incarcerations and drug abuse. Instructors usually emphasize that there’s nothing wrong with this. In a quest to overcome personal and financial difficulties, learning a trade can be a vital piece of the puzzle, but it can’t be the only piece.

Regardless, they say that this reality contributes to the image problem community colleges have. People usually don’t associate community colleges with a highly successful career, at least in this country. I think making community college free is a good thing, theoretically, but it won’t overcome the image problem.

Regardless, education is at its heart a social and economic issue, not a political one, and it’s sad to see something so important used just to help politicians position themselves for the next election.

About the Author
The Fabricator

Tim Heston

Senior Editor

2135 Point Blvd

Elgin, IL 60123

815-381-1314

Tim Heston, The Fabricator's senior editor, has covered the metal fabrication industry since 1998, starting his career at the American Welding Society's Welding Journal. Since then he has covered the full range of metal fabrication processes, from stamping, bending, and cutting to grinding and polishing. He joined The Fabricator's staff in October 2007.