'Don't pay your kids tuition fees upfront' Discussion Area

setmefree2

melancholly wrote: »

i'm not encouraging anyone to get into debt needlessly. i'm encouraging them to understand the debt - and in reality, without student loans, most people couldn't even consider a degree at the current fees level (which is one of the major reasons i opposed the new changes to HE funding).

It's not a debt, it's a tax, and a pretty pernicious and nasty one at that.

melancholly

setmefree2 wrote: »

It's not a debt, it's a tax, and a pretty pernicious and nasty one at that.

fine, then talk everyone out of university unless they're from families that can pay up front. make a university degree a sign of financial elitism. if that's the way you want things to go, carry on making your points. i couldn't disagree with that line more. higher education should and must be open to everyone, from whatever background. i think the student should be able to think for themselves and not be smothered into a decision by well intentioned but fundamentally misguided parents. without loans, people couldn't go. the loans system is far from perfect but it remains the best loan anyone could every get. most school kids seem to be able to understand cost/benefit decisions and this is one of them. don't insult their intelligence by assuming that parents should control the money of a 20 year old who is living independently.

Oldernotwiser

setmefree2 wrote: »

We're talking about kids, many of whom have only just turned 17. None of them have a vote. They are not adults. They can't really comprehend the tax implications of the decisions they are making imho.

They can marry, have children and fight for their country and they'll normally be 18 within a couple of months.

Oops, just saw Melancholly's post!

Oldernotwiser

setmefree2 wrote: »

I don't think anyone can undestand how truly depressing it must be to work really hard and only earn 60p in £1, when you're annual salary is only £15k or £21k.....

Nobody earns 60 p in the pound on a £15 K or £21K salary!

And Lokolo's!

setmefree2

melancholly wrote: »

fine, then talk everyone out of university unless they're from families that can pay up front.fine, then talk everyone out of university unless they're from families that can pay up front. make a university degree a sign of financial elitism. if that's the way you want things to go, carry on making your points. i couldn't disagree with that line more.

What you'd rather we all made a silk purse out of a sows ear? Let's get all happy clappy and pretend everthing is wonderful? I'm not sure how that helps anyone?

By the way, I'm not talking anyone into or out of anything. When it comes to money people should make their own minds up.

But imao one should never underestimate the foolish of crowds....

setmefree2

melancholly wrote: »

higher education should and must be open to everyone, from whatever background.

and should be paid for fairly.

setmefree2

melancholly wrote: »

i think the student should be able to think for themselves and not be smothered into a decision by well intentioned but fundamentally misguided parents.

What? They should listen to well intentioned "others" who have their own agenda :cool:

setmefree2

melancholly wrote: »

without loans, people couldn't go. the loans system is far from perfect but it remains the best loan anyone could every get.

The loan system is really a tax and either way it stinks!

The_One_Who

setmefree2 wrote: »

The loan system is really a tax and either way it stinks!

How would you change it? How would you ensure that higher education is still accessible to all, whilst still actually managing to pay for the costs that higher education entails? Where would the money come from?

setmefree2

melancholly wrote: »

don't insult their intelligence by assuming that parents should control the money of a 20 year old who is living independently.

I guess they're 18 when they sign up for their first SL..... and the majority have absolutely no choice but to sign....