Students Should Serve

Students Should Serve

If students want the government to help pay for college expenses, they should receive it always with ONE CONDITION: THAT THEY WILL SERVE AT LEAST A YEAR IN A VOCATION OR AMERICAN LOCATION WHERE A NEED IS GREATEST, IN THE PEACE OR VISTA CORPS, IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY WHERE THE PEOPLE NEED HELP DIGGING WELLS FOR DRINKING WATER OR CONSTRUCTING SCHOOLS OR ADDRESSING ANOTHER NEED.  If not these, then it should be service in the military.

In 1960 I received government loans under a program that required me to help meet our nation's need for teachers.  That commitment helped the country. It also helped me by reducing my loans a percentage for each year that I continued to teach. 

There is no reason that students today should simply get loans then skip out of paying them off.  Some even receive a reduction in their loans in the same way the semi-wealthy can have unpaid taxes reduced if they owe over $10,000; yet, those of us who make errors then owe $2,000 have to pay back every penny.  Instead of reductions for them, they should have to serve the country in some way at the same low pay that people start at in menial jobs. The same rules and practices should apply for everybody regardless of income or social standing.

I am glad that the government has the program that provides grants to students who enter college from low-income homes at or near the poverty level, those from foster homes, those with a parent incarcerated, and those in similar situations that would otherwise prevent them from even considering college.  The same would apply to military discharged individuals and to adults who seek education and anyone who seeks technical schools.

Students who receive government aid and loans should be required to begin their studies, at least the first two years, at colleges such as Community Colleges, Jr. Colleges or other less expensive Universities. 

It is important that every American citizen, who seeks post-high school education, be provided assistance; however, it should be as indicated within the body of this article.