Has education sold out? Your weekly roundup of the best education insights and analysis

#EDinsignts As a high school graduate of 91 and the daughter of an elementary teacher and a school district manager I was a big believer in the system. I was told that if I worked hard and got good grades, participated in sports and community projects that I was on my way to the american dream, first stop, a bachelor's degree. When I took the junior class field trips to all of the esteemed campuses California had to offer, nearly every tour guide began their tour with this phrase; don't worry about paying for it, everyone here is on financial aid or loans of some sort. (as an adult I find this far dubious of a coincidence) I was told about the fafsa and when to apply for it but little else. After a few meetings with a school rep I had guaranteed acceptance at UC Santa Cruz. They had the nicest art facilities. I get so annoyed when adults accuse kids of poor planning. How is a kid supposed to know when those meant to guide their decisions don't provide any support? Some even take advantage of their lack of knowledge. I was so eager to begin that I finished my graduation requirements early leaving half of my senior year as open study but I had to take civics and economics at night class next door to keep on being in the marching band. I got a good look at what goes on on the GED side. Tests were shockingly easy and on top of that open book and no homework- everything was spoon fed to students to push them through. It was shocking to me because they were being handed what I worked so hard for. During my senior assessment with my counselor and told him my goal was to teach high school crafts. He told me that it was a bad idea since the government was cutting teachers like crazy. He suggested I focus on graphic design. Only then did the counselor suggest the local trade tech. I was bussed out there for three periods a day to work on live work with real equipment. I found the hands on approach wonderful but when I looked around the classroom it was obvious that for some reason these classes were only being filled ESL, GED, and problem students. I learned basic design and software without any frills. Cost to me: $0. After graduation my fafsa results came back rejected. I was heart broken. I was told it was because my parents made too much money and that they were expected to give up one third of their income yearly before I would qualify- even for loans. I asked my mom to no longer claim me on her taxes and I signed up for the local community college. My experience at community college was infuriating. I had to take placement exams. During my first week in English I realized I was taking the same class I had taking in the 8th grade. When I went to the counselor to ask to move to a higher English I was told that I could not move up. I had to pay for two more English classes before they even applied to my AA. I had trouble with statistics so, when they offered personal finance as an option I took it. This class was probably the only practical non-art class I took. The next year they withdrew it as an option- but I still recommend it. This is the only time I was taught about mortgages, credit cards, and retirement planning. When the next year's fafsa came back again rejected I went, nearly sobbing, to the financial aid office of the junior college. Only then, was I told that it didn't matter if my parents claimed me or not. Their income would be combined with mine until I reached 25. This led to a loss of momentum I never got back. Needed a car, started working full time, met a guy.... Why cram when there is no way to move forward? After several years of pecking at my AA requirements I was finally finished with my list that I was given. Costs had risen dramatically in the last 4 years. My first semester it was 5 bucks a unit with a 50 dollar cap. By the end six years later it was 60 a unit with no cap. When I met with this other counselor to apply for my AA he used my AP classes from high school with the exception of a semester of hygiene and a psychology class. Did the last guy not know?! It cost me a load of money and time needlessly. Again I'm furious. This left me a little disenfranchised with the whole system. Some of my blue collar routed friends were getting married, starting families, and saving for mortgages. Sales seems to be an excellent field if you are a good talker. I felt left behind. I wanted to stick to my path but was not so trusting of the UC's anymore. I checked out more trade schools and an art college in Pasadena that would have left me nearly 300,000 in dept. It was a fantastic school but couldn't bring myself to rack up that kind of dept. At 19 my decision may have been different- more optimistic less cautious. But after 5 years of kitchen work, I went with the trade school and I'm glad I did. It was accredited so I got my BA as planned. After, I quickly learned that no one really cared about my BA. My coworkers are largely taught by the company or self taught. Since, I have no interest in management I would have been just fine to have self taught with my tech school base. My AA in liberal arts is/was a complete waste employers would ask 'What's that?' at interviews. I was told I could do anything with it and I struggled to explain it as a discipline. All that mattered was my portfolio and my personal presentation. The trade school only cost 15,000 I took out the loan with one signature. I didn't waste time on filler classes. Things like history were the history of advertising. The pace was crazy if you were not a self motivator you would crash. 5pm to 11pm mon-thrus for a year and a half. One month crammed into a week. Years later in the work force I had the chance to work with someone that had taken my original path. I expected her to blow me away but, I was surprised to find many holes in her knowledge base. This really helped me feel good about my own choices in the end. I feel for those kids who get called lazy or spoiled when it's the adults who are running the show. Letting in kids based on athletics, or family prestige/money in stead of academic performance. These people are the ones who should be the subject of ridicule selling a product that is high dollar and churning out such a disappointing results. Why do we blame the kids for the school's shortcomings and deception? Who is really lazy and spoiled here?

Maya, my wife has worked for my Alma mater for fifteen years. Due to the state budget, the public university is cutting back, no new hiring, eliminating the tennis program and raising tuition. Really, the tennis program? I am not a sports fan, but the football and basketball programs cost millions, tennis a bit over a 100k. "Drop in the bucket" comes to mind. This is a State University, so of course prevailing wage and unions are involved. If a light bulb burns out, your handy, friendly maintenance man can not change it. It has to be a $55.00 dollar/union electrician to change a light bulb. A window A.C. unit went out in one of the buildings: it took a union carpenter to remove the trim, a laborer to remove the unit and an electrician to unplug it. When the new unit arrived, it took the same crew to put it in.

Why is tuition such a ripoff, and why do students (and their parents) so meekly put up with it?

yes,definitely higher education is expensive