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Mrs Whiggins

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Everything posted by Mrs Whiggins

  1. To add to the discussion, a couple of my own thoughts: 1. It would be helpful when adding anecdotal info (not from the Op-ed above but other posts) if the unit is listed. For example, @Pig Bellmont mentioned his father paid ~$660 per year while @Rimbo paid that amount per semester while attending. @GringoSalado mentioned $120--is that per credit hour/semester/year? If per credit hour, I believe the math would be around $1440 per semester for 12 hours (minimum full time student) so $2880 per year. Currently, UT is ~$5,500 per semester depending upon major. 2. I don't dispute the information regarding the spending; I spent a lot of time on this when my oldest was preparing for college and followed various paths. It gets complicated (to me) on several levels. I'm spoilering that discussion for brevity: The student debt/loans is a big problem; no question. It's also useful IMO to break that down into smaller bits though. For example, @tx 3 putt and @smokebomb mention trade school debt. There is also the debt taken on by pursing education at the predatory little strip mall schools that offer associates degrees. I was surprised to discover that one of the most common majors for that degree is English. I'm not knocking English and heaven knows I've read enough writing that could use a good polish, but it is not clear to me what career path the average associates degree holder is taking that major. In a four year school, many English majors go on to teach (k-12/post secondary) and so on so I'm thinking perhaps that the 2 years are attempting to get their grades up enough to transfer in to a four year school (which, if the community type college is standard as opposed to for-profit is one way to save money). And, bringing up community colleges, those also have students who take on financial burdens because even those schools are not super cheap and again, have some administrative mandates that they must follow. It does seem as if there is an unbearable strain on the system. I mean, off the top of my head: rising population (i.e. more HS grads enrolling in four year institutions), more degree holders in general among both native born and immigrant populations (I believe I read in the BofLabor stats that save Mexico, immigrants from other countries were just as likely or more likely to have a bachelor's degree--that is not a personal statement on immigration, it's just what I listed to discuss degree holding populations), automation of many career paths, fluctuating birth rates that affect enrollment numbers, etc. And yes, loans are a big deal. One thing that does seem to be data supported is that the leading indicator for student success at four year institutions is family income. That is a big deal if we really stop and think about it and education in general. So many ways you could go with that in a discussion. Anecdotally, my family went from generational poverty to first-gen to soon to have multiple grads and that path has gotten a lot more difficult today. We have tiers of educational institutions within higher ed from elite private and public to tiny system schools that exist to serve very local communities. What path should students from impoverished backgrounds follow given some of the economic realities? Given the wealth inequalities that are growing? Given various demographics of our country? A final note about the Op Ed. Paul Campos is a Federalist Society member and has a variety of publications. IMO, his statements hold some truths, but little in the way of productive measures. So, administrative salaries at the top levels are high, so the numbers of admins are up. What is the solution? He is a law professor at U of Colorado-Boulder and has written a book "Don't Go To Law School (Unless): A Professor's Guide to Maximizing Opportunity and Minimizing Risk." I don't doubt that the legal career path is expensive, competitive, and not a decision to be taken lightly. We've just been discussing how many career paths are similar. We have a lot of people in this country and a variety of careers. What are some ways to provide opportunity to those who seek higher education but cannot afford it? Tough cookies? Subsidize? Eliminate unfunded mandates from state higher ed boards? Eliminate the assistance programs for students with special needs? Should the non financial aid students subsidize the needier students as this currently is in place at various institutions? A lot to unpack, sorry for the very long post. TL/DR: I am pro higher education or at least education in general but pragmatic enough to realize it is not the best path for all. Who, how, and why are questions that I think about with respect to higher ed. Oh, and to what purpose. That's another one.
  2. What years were you attending? One of the conflating (I think that's the word I need here) issues with tuition is that in 2003, the tuition regulating authority passed from the Texas Legislature to the public universities. During that first year, tuition at the various state schools was raised anywhere from 4 to 15 percent. Between 2004 and 2008, tuition increased 47 percent (statewide). Some have argued that deregulating tuition slowed increases while others argue the opposite view. Given that the portion that state funds with taxpayer dollars has shrunk, tuition was going to increase regardless. (Prior to 2003, tuition was already on the climb, having increased ~30 percent in the years preceding the bill's passage.) One of the potential reasons for the deregulation passing may have been the multi billion dollar shortfall the state was facing--they could keep from raising taxes and then pass the blame onto the higher ed institutions). FWIW, I'm not speaking in favor of one point or the other, but providing some context for those that may not have been aware of some of the background. My example was Texas as I reside here, but this was not a lone outlier with respect to higher ed in general. Without straying too far off topic, while some would like a 'reset' for ideological reasons in higher ed, I disagree with that and believe the focus would be better served on some of the discussion that is more related to the topic in this thread--there are varying degrees (not physical degrees) of post secondary education that can serve a variety of needs: tech school, apprenticeships, associate degrees, traditional colleges and universities, etc. What needs are best met by each of these to produce capable, thinking, productive citizens that are engaged in society and how do we reach a consensus?
  3. Here is some data for you from the National Center for Education Statistics: Th the following is some more info that was included with the above illustration: II In order to productively discuss the merits, though, it might be useful for folks to elaborate on what exactly they personally consider a useless degree. For example, if a student majors in history but also registers for a robust curriculum of science coursework, they may very well go onto medical school. While universities offer biomedical type degrees, that is no guarantee that medical school is in a student's future. Professional schools only have so many slots to fill and quite a few applicants.
  4. UT's own John Hanke was Plan II and then went on to earn an MBA at Cal-Berkeley. Perhaps an example on the higher end, but it is worth saying that there is a not insignificant number of enrolled students who view college as extended high school and expect a job handed to them upon graduation. Not how that works and truly it never has. Goes without saying that in some years markets are tighter and the type of degree does matter, but the study/social life balance is interesting to observe. Young people in most schools today do not have the benefit their parents did of being able to string out college: it was cheaper and schools were not penalized (at least as much) if a student had extended year(s) to get their shit together, endure a life tragedy, figure out exactly what might be a suitable career path, etc. Degree plans are much tighter now. I've observed that with my own children. Get in and get out. Is that the way it should be? Again, depends upon with whom you speak.
  5. In the Movie section there has been a thread discussing the latest Guy Ritchie movie--Operation Fortune. In some ways, the entire GOP is like a Ritchie movie turned sideways and with gangsters, con artists, and enforcers. I keep waiting for some angry father to slam Pedo Matt's face with a car door or for the rank and file to decide they're sick of being told what to do by Wotcher Jim Jordan and wrap him face down in a urinal by his crooked tie.
  6. Some of what plays into that is when your dad went to school the percentage that taxpayers via the state subsidizing tuition was likely higher. Disregarding Texas which has a somewhat unique situation, the percentage is quite stark in some states. For many years regardless of whether a taxpayer or a taxpayers family used higher education, they subsidized it. This was not seen as a bad thing, per se, as the idea was to lead to a more educated diversely enriched population that, in turn, would pay higher taxes due to higher income levels. Often, someone with K-12 + some higher ed (does not have to be a full on bachelor's degree or more) is able to pivot somewhat if life hands them a surprise shit sandwich. I'm generalizing, but while one can self-educate (i.e. via a library etc), the ability to have discussions and exposure to varying perspectives and life experiences is enriching and available and more likely to be taken advantage of in an educational setting. Does it happen in the work force? Yes, sure, but the purpose and motivations are perhaps under different constraints then. The US used to have the highest educated population in the world, but have fallen behind other countries. Does that matter? Depends upon with whom you speak.
  7. The Sargassum is reclaiming its people?
  8. Mrs Whiggins

    LBGTQ

    Stephen Miller (yes that Stephen Miller) replies to Kirk's tweets. That tells anyone in possession of thinking skills pretty much everything they might need to know.
  9. The Ledge could have *poetry in springtime if you like; you know things such as 'gather ye rosebuds while ye may...' or "...the lone and level sands stretch far away' or 'Then we will have tonight,' -we said- 'Tomorrow may we not be dead?' or '...She was advised to play coy, exhorted to come on hearty, exercise, diet, smile and wheedle....' or there is the following poem which will really bum you out so it is spoilered: Some folks have decided that women are to be the shame eaters for all of society's ills. *Selections are, in order, from: To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time by Robert Herrick; Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley; On Cheating The Fiddler by Dorothy Parker; and Barbie Doll by Marge Piercy. I'm not well-read in poetry but I believe it to be a worthwhile endeavor.
  10. I also put some tomatoes in a while back and now am sweating their survival. Argh. The early bloomers I still have inside, but I was trying to jumpstart the longer to produce variety. Oh well. I've covered them but this will slow things down if they make it. We'll see.
  11. Also in all fairness ^^ I read Brisket's sentence as "magats, how do they work..." and realized it is all still ironic and apt.
  12. The website, Theocracy Watch, is no longer updated (I think the last time was over a decade ago) but over the last several years I have found it useful to read some of the essays on that site. It was *founded by Joan Boaker, now 78, as part of Cornell's Center for Religion, Ethics, and Social Policy (CRESP). Cornell renamed it several years back as the Center for Transformative Action and with that shifted their focus. Franklin T. Lambert was another academic who wrote quite a bit about the founding of America and religion but I get the feeling that we are seeing less and less of the scholars who speak of history as it truly was (w/o cherry picking) and more of the pushing of the agenda to return to scholars who wrote (and will write) of history from the perspective of the ruling class; which in America is male and white and Christian i.e. a true patriot. The idea that godless communist 'secular humanist' academics were and are ruining America is not a new thought, but the way in which the rise of the evangelical right and the corporate oligarchs have dovetailed in the political and academic arenas is not a surprise. It's been pointed out on this forum many times how many corporations were saying one thing (we support DEI and other causes!) while their donation and lobbying histories suggest otherwise. In the long term authoritarianism, theocracy, and other similarly minded types of rule are bad news, even for those who believe they will be in a protected class. But that is where we're headed pell-mell. *Boaker did not found CRESP--to clarify--that was founded by John Lee Smith, (1928-2010) and perhaps with his passing, one of the reasons for the shift towards an alternative approach for the Center. He graduated from UT-Austin, summa cum laude and then went on to Yale where he received a Bachelor of Divinity. Hook 'em.
  13. From the article:
  14. Mrs Whiggins

    LBGTQ

    If you go back in time to those posts prior to RvW even hitting the docket, those topics were under discussion on Surly because of the pace at which Trump was appointing judges. The judge shopping that they've been doing with abortion access since RvW was overturned is likely to be followed with subsequent challenges with each of those laws that they wish changed. Anyone who thinks Clarence Thomas will have some sort of epiphany due to his own marriage is delusional. Greg Abbott's epiphany was to change the laws so that no one benefits in the same way he did. The laws apply to 'other' not to the ruling class.
  15. When J.M. Barrie developed his novel, Peter Pan, into the play the part was played by a woman even then. A later play, The Boy David, was written to be played by a female as well. I do consider it interesting when folks get upset about new productions changing elements. If Americans (in particular) were more aware of theater productions or arts and humanities in general, they would know this is not uncommon. I understand being sentimental about specific works, but unless there is some sort of legal issue/copyright/what have you, it is the changing nature of things over time. Fairy tales change, people take works and create new elements and stories and the world keeps on turning. Heck, how many different versions of the Bible are there? If each Bible is the word of God, then how is it the words and meanings have changed over time?
  16. Oh, that is some sad news.
  17. Would not be surprised to see the ruling today. The judge announced on Wednesday per the article in this tweet that he would rule as soon as possible but I suspect releasing it on St. Patrick's Day would not surprise me at all at all.
  18. Mrs Whiggins

    LBGTQ

    AFAIK, the original accusations levied against Sodom/Gomorrah (in ancient Jewish texts) were that those of adultery, pridefulness, and uncharitableness and has its roots in the citizenry sticking to a harsh letter of the law approach as opposed to the idea of homosexuality (which was developed later). Yet another example of folks who manufacture their own belief system and expect everyone else to accept that wholecloth as verifiable and true.
  19. Yes, I agree. We'll give it a shot anyway. We enjoyed The Gentlemen.
  20. From the comments for the win:
  21. Anyone else noticed that alongside the male attorney, Erik Baptist, for the plaintiffs in the Mifepristone abortion pill case is one Erin Morrow Hawley, wife of Josh Hawley? Yep. That judge is putting them in the red zone and they've one inch to go before they do the TD dance. Disgusted.
  22. They co-opted the phrase and turned it into a pejorative without ever knowing its long history. Because of course they did.
  23. He has a style, but whatever it is, it works for me--Moonrise Kingdom etc some of my favorite movies.
  24. William K. Hale, FIL of DiCaprio's character, Ernest Burkhart Been awhile, that is uncle/nephew. I can't recall the exact relationship.
  25. Did you happen to watch that? Not a trailer for Asteroid City my friend.
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