<p>Originaloog, I totally agree with you and your son’s decision - in fact, that’s what we have already told our kids who are in a similiar position: get merit aid and the “savings” to us will end up being yours after graduation. I was just playing devil’s advocate, as I’m sure you understand. </p>
<p>I am trying to put my thoughts on educational funding specifically into order. I do believe we need to spend more money on k-12 education, or perhaps spend what money we are spending more efficiently. I am not convinced that Bush’s “No child left behind” strategy is the way to improve k-12 education but I haven’t yet figured out what would improve k-12 education. I think I would prefer to see more money actually going directly to under-performing schools that serve high populations of low-income and non-English speaking students. As the No Child system is stacked right now, it seems like those schools are being punished for what is beyond their control to a certain extent. However, I am also against the idea of school vouchers - I do not believe that taxpayer money should be used to pay for private school education, in particular for religious school education (although both of my children do attend religiously-affiliated schools).</p>
<p>But, ultimately, my priority for education spending lies in k-12 funding over college funding. I know it is difficult to get a college education or vocational training if you come from a low income (or even middle class) family, but college age students are adults, they have options in terms of choosing a less expensive school or job training path, being able to work, go to school part time, take out loans, apply for other forms of financial aid, etc. that children in k-12 do not have. Therefore, I believe the federal government’s responsibility to offer aid to them, especially in the form of out-right grants like the Pell grant, should NOT be considered an automatic entitlement. But, as usual, that’s just my opinion. ;)</p>