Month: February 2023

Throughout the years, college has become more and more expensive. According to Education Data, a four-year college degree in the years 2010-2011 costed $8,070 at a public university, and $22,677 at a private university. In total, this comes to around $33,000 and $90,000. Paying $90,000 for a degree that may not be used, is something that is hard to grasp. In 2022, the average cost of a private university was $38,070, according to Business Insider. This means that every year, tuition increased for students.

            You may be asking yourself, why is college so expensive in America, and should it be this expensive? Personally, I know that I have asked myself this question several times.

            A college degree in America is something that sets you up for a job and a comfortable life. While some get out of college and immediately make great money, this isn’t the case for everyone. Some people are drowning in debt, whereas others are not. Forbes states there is “$1.75 trillion in total student loan debt (including federal and private loans.)” Hearing a number like this, to pay for an education, doesn’t sit right with many.

            While many people can attend college, and have the privilege to, many cannot. Those who cannot attend college do have other options, such as trade school, real estate, working, and more. However, not being able to go to college simply because you cannot afford it is something no one should have to experience. It is not fair that the cost of an education limits so many individuals.

            If college wasn’t so expensive, it is possible that more people would attend college, leading to more people in the working world, which leads to a better economy, and so on. However, this is not the case. When people do not attend college, it is often frowned upon and looked as inferior to those who do. For some, it is simply a better option, and it would be a waste of money. For example, if someone were looking to go into construction, and be paid a $60,000 starting salary, why would they spend money on an education, that will cost them at least this same amount of money. It simply is something that is a choice, and for some, working right out of high school is a better option.

            Overall, I believe that college is way too expensive. Although I think it is too expensive, I do not think that it should be free, as it could be taken advantage of and be less valuable in the end. If the cost of college is reduced, it would allow more people who want to attend college to be able to, decrease the amount of debt in America, and so much more. In years to come, this is something for future generations to fight for so that everyone has an equal opportunity at a college education.

Sources:

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/student-loans/average-student-loan-statistics/

https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/average-college-tuition#average-annual-tuition-at-private-4-year-colleges-and-universities

https://educationdata.org/average-cost-of-college-by-year

Growing up, how many times did you think about how much your teachers did for you? Whether it was teaching you how to do addition or how to navigate the tough situation you were in, teachers have always been supportive people, especially at a young age. Teachstarter states, “If you’re an elementary school teacher, you’re probably used to 4- or 5-years old’s wandering into your building on the first day of school. After all, most American students start pre-K somewhere around age 4 and kindergarten somewhere around age 5.” At the age of 5, you are not considering how much your teacher does for you and how much they get paid for it.

            As we get older, we start to notice how much work teachers do. Despite having a summer break and multiple vacations per year, there is no denying that teachers don’t get paid enough, especially elementary school teachers. Dealing with young children and middle schoolers is hard enough but overseeing 20 is another story. Every kid is different and having to cater to each of them is not only difficult, but can be draining and time consuming, leading to teachers working longer days than what they signed up for and are being paid for. With this, CNBC states, “K-12 teachers report the highest burnout rate of all U.S. professions, with more than four out of every 10 teachers noting that they feel burned out “always” or “very often” at work, according to a June 2022 Gallup poll.”

            Insider states, “The median necessary living wage across the entire US is $67,690.” On the other hand, USA Facts states, “In 2021, the average K-12 public school teacher nationwide was paid $65,090.” The thought that the average teacher isn’t making the living wage, is simply shocking, and a perfect example of how teachers are overworked and underpaid. Along with being overworked and underpaid, it leads to younger generations not wanting to pursue their passions, because of money. It is hard to go into a career that does not pay well and pay for school.

            Overall, teaching is a profession that is essential to society, even though it is overlooked. For all that they do, they should be paid and appreciated more, and in the future, hopefully this can happen. In one of my future blogs, I plan to look into the cause of why teachers are so overworked and underpaid.

Sources:

https://www.teachstarter.com/us/blog/what-age-do-kids-start-school-around-world/

https://usafacts.org/articles/which-states-pay-teachers-the-most-and-least/

https://www.businessinsider.com/living-wage-income-to-live-comfortably-in-every-us-state

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/22/teachers-are-in-the-midst-of-a-burnout-crisis-it-became-intolerable.html