[ STUDENT EDITORIAL WRITING CONTEST ] Third Place: Elementary School By GRANT NORTHRUP FIFTH GRADE; LINCOLN AVENUE ACADEMY, LAKELAND; TEACHER: KATHRYN RAHN Published: Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at 12:14 a.m. In my opinion, the Florida Legislature should not reduce state funding for state universities. Higher education is the most important issue for the future of the state of Florida. Every effort should be made to keep tuition affordable for state residents. Higher tuition costs mean fewer qualified students can afford a college degree. According to 2008 census data, in Florida, nearly 37 percent of the state’s working-age adults hold at least a two-year college degree. Here in Polk County, the rate is just 27 percent. This compares to a national average of around 38 percent. A decrease in state funding resulting in an increase in tuition costs will cause our state and county to fall further behind. This is a risk we cannot afford to take, so, in my opinion, the State Legislature needs to look elsewhere for budget cuts. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged. http://www.theledger.com/article/20121205/COLUMNISTS0304/121209665?tc=ar This issue has gotten national attention, Grant, and I agree tuition is too high. However, simply asking the State of Florida to regulate is in not enough to fix the problem of the costs of college being too high: When the Federal Government loans -or guarantees -huge loans for college students, then colleges in all 50 states raise tuition to match the increased borrowing ability of the student. This is what happened in the housing market in 2010. It is known as 'Distorting the Free Market.' If Florida Lawmakers forced colleges to lower tuition to affordable levels, state taxpayers would have to make up the difference. However, there is a limit to how much taxpayers are willing to pay. The result here would be that colleges & universities in the other 49 states would be able to offer a much better quality of education, since they over-charge their students. (College is too high in ALL 50 states.) I believe that this would put Florida colleges at a competitive disadvantage, and our Florida Lawmakers would cave into the pressure to raise tuition. While the State lawmakers ARE responsible for exerting pressure to keep costs of college down (in all 50 states), this alone is not enough: The Federal Government needs to STOP making and guaranteeing ANY college loans -like they did in the 1950's: We were able to have the *best* colleges in the world back then, and yet they were NOT unfordable, high in costs -and we could do it again, if we repeated our actions -that is, removing Federal dollars from making or backing ALL loans. Also, college students should once again be able to obtain bankruptcy with the same ease as Credit Card users, and rich Wall Street Bankers. (Currently, college loans can not obtain bankruptcy unless the person is expected to NEVER earn enough to pay their loan off: The standards are almost impossible to meet.) If we allowed college students the right to file for bankruptcy, once again, then lenders would make fewer loans, and colleges & universities would *know* that students were unable to pay exorbitant and unrealistically high amounts for college, and this "Free Market" pressure would force them to lower the cost of college to an amount that kids could afford. However, Federal Lawmakers, who receive a LOT of 'campaign contributions' from rich bankers (who make these loans) and very rich colleges and university officials (who would lose money if they could not make as much off students with huge college loans) are influenced to keep students as indentured servitude "debt slaves." This is morally as wrong as the actual slavery of the past, but like that slavery, I believe that it too will be VERY hard to stop. This issue is a difficult issue for adults to fix. Proof of that is the fact that we have not fixed it, even though we know better: We are simply greedy and dishonest. How much more difficult would it be for children to understand the concept here, and fix it? But at least you're honest, and you are correct on one point: We need to send enough money to Higher Education, but since many professors, coaches, and university presidents already make 6-figure salaries -or even over a million dollars -the problem is not enough money, but simply using the existing money in an honest fashion. On behalf of all the adults who are dishonest in this regard, I must apologize: We are wrong, but I can not do anything to fix this problem: I am only one person. Best of luck, and thank you for writing your [ STUDENT EDITORIAL WRITING CONTEST ] Second Place: Elementary School By LINDSEY BROOKS FIFTH GRADE; LINCOLN AVENUE ACADEMY, LAKELAND; TEACHER: MARTI BLACKWELL Published: Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at 12:04 a.m. Last Modified: Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at 12:04 a.m. The U.S. Department of Education states that the number of Floridian college students with degrees has declined by nearly 20,000 in 2009 and 2010. This is because the Florida government cut funding for colleges. The state needs to increase funding for colleges instead. Enlarge | Lindsey Brooks. SCOTT WHEELER | THE LEDGER If we asked college students to pay higher tuition, how would that convince them to get a college degree? A decrease of college graduates means more unemployment and a lower standard of living. If the state raised the money through taxes, universities could be funded without taking money away from other resources. Plus, college graduates would eventually pay it forward for the next generation. If the government increased funding through taxes, everything would be in balance. We need to change our path to the future ahead. http://www.theledger.com/article/20121205/COLUMNISTS0304/121209666 Gordon Wayne Watts · Top Commenter · Florida State University This issue has gotten national attention, Lindsey, and I agree tuition is too high. However, simply asking the State of Florida to regulate it (or increase funding) is in not enough to fix the problem of the costs of college being too high: When the Federal Government loans -or guarantees -huge loans for college students, then colleges in all 50 states raise tuition to match the increased borrowing ability of the student. This is what happened in the housing market in 2010. It is known as 'Distorting the Free Market.' If Florida Lawmakers forced colleges to lower tuition to affordable levels, state taxpayers would have to make up the difference. However, there is a limit to how much taxpayers are willing to pay. The result here would be that colleges & universities in the other 49 states would be able to offer a much better quality of education, since they over-charge their students. (College is too high in ALL 50 states.) I believe that this would put Florida colleges at a competitive disadvantage, and our Florida Lawmakers would cave into the pressure to raise tuition. While the State lawmakers ARE responsible for exerting pressure to keep costs of college down (in all 50 states), this alone is not enough: The Federal Government needs to STOP making and guaranteeing ANY college loans -like they did in the 1950's: We were able to have the *best* colleges in the world back then, and yet they were NOT unfordable, high in costs -and we could do it again, if we repeated our actions -that is, removing Federal dollars from making or backing ALL loans. Also, college students should once again be able to obtain bankruptcy with the same ease as Credit Card users, and rich Wall Street Bankers. (Currently, college loans can not obtain bankruptcy unless the person is expected to NEVER earn enough to pay their loan off: The standards are almost impossible to meet.) If we allowed college students the right to file for bankruptcy, once again, then lenders would make fewer loans, and colleges & universities would *know* that students were unable to pay exorbitant and unrealistically high amounts for college, and this "Free Market" pressure would force them to lower the cost of college to an amount that kids could afford. However, Federal Lawmakers, who receive a LOT of 'campaign contributions' from rich bankers (who make these loans) and very rich colleges and university officials (who would lose money if they could not make as much off students with huge college loans) are influenced to keep students as indentured servitude "debt slaves." This is morally as wrong as the actual slavery of the past, but like that slavery, I believe that it too will be VERY hard to stop. This issue is a difficult issue for adults to fix. Proof of that is the fact that we have not fixed it, even though we know better: We are simply greedy and dishonest. How much more difficult would it be for children to understand the concept here, and fix it? But at least you're honest, and you are correct on one point: We need to sufficiently fund Higher Education with enough money, but since many professors, coaches, and university presidents already make 6-figure salaries -or even over a million dollars -the problem is not enough money, but simply using the existing money in an honest fashion. On behalf of all the adults who are dishonest in this regard, I must apologize, Lindsey: We are wrong, but I can not do anything to fix this problem: I am only one person. Best of luck, and thank you for writing your editorial.//. Reply · 2 · Unlike · Unfollow Post · 3 minutes ago Gordon Wayne Watts · Top Commenter · Florida State University OK, all you adults see my apology to the author for our dishonesty: One solution is outlined here: Cross-posted on 4 mirrors: * www.GordonWatts.com/Higher-Ed-Tuition-Costs.html * www.GordonWayneWatts.com/Higher-Ed-Tuition-Costs.html * www.ThirstForJustice.net/Higher-Ed-Tuition-Costs.html * http://Gordon_Watts.Tripod.com/Higher-Ed-Tuition-Costs.html Reply · 2 · Unlike · Unfollow Post · 2 minutes ago It is odd, isn't it, that you're VERY liberal, and I'm VERY conservative,Ben, and yet we both agree that college tuition is VERY MUCH to high!? --- That said, I did leave one thing: While the writer is correct in her claims that education needs money to operate, there was one little problem with the way you liberals typically handle things: You all generally throw money at the problem, and this usually does not help: The colleges & universities are dishonest, greedy, and just plain "bad," and they simply raise their salaries to match the increased grant or subsidy money the State gives them. They are *already* overpaid; can't we see that? Their wages have risen MUCH faster than the rate of inflation, even though American Higher Education has FALLEN in world rankings -- now, I admit this may be simply because other nations are getting smarter, but I think we are ALSO getting dumber: Indeed, my Physical Chem professor up at FSU said he believes that modern students are NOT as smart as those of the past, and I trust that old dude: I think he'd be in a position to know. So, in closing, yes, Ben: I agree with your suggestion the writer is on the right track, but reduction of the influx of the Federal Loan flood is necessary, as is the return of ALL Standard Consumer Protections, including bankruptcy: If rich Wall Street bankers can seek (and get!) bankruptcy, as well as Donald Trump (who filed for AND GOT bankruptcy FOUR times -certainly not for chump change amounts like college students would get), then why not college students? The bankers & Wall Street types always get stimulus & bailout MONIE$, and yet *still* seek bankruptcy all the time. So, my 'Conservative' solutions must be added to those 'Liberal' solutions offered by people such as you and the writer of this Op-Ed here --then, and only then, can we hope to get a handle on these problems. /:-) |;-D) The 'lead-off' songs listed in the 1st four 'samples' are indeed good pop, but I think that the 'hidden' songs, not described here are even better quality. That may be because I think a lot of 80's hip hop rap from the era of Grandmaster FLASH & the Furious 5, Afrika Bambaataa, D.J. Kurtis Blow, and Eric B & Rakim. Nonetheless, DeScribe holds his own with these greats, in those songs where he goes back in the day to evoke the "Old Skool" spirit. While some (including DeScribe, himself) have said he's more of a 'pop' artist, I respectfully dissent: He is one of the greatest hip hop artists currently performing, as some of his older works will attest: Just Google him and find out! When he teams up with artists such as Matisyahu or Y-Love, he is at his best, and I encourage you to go back and get both this album (if you're more of a pop fan, but it has various styles) as well as his older works: 'Change' and Make It' are, in my opinion, classics.