Discussion of the Day
Should Education Be Free?
Jul 14, 22
Do you think education be free? Well I think yes, it is because that it will encourage kids to do more education related things (like maths and English). Also, parents don't have to spend money in order for their child to learn. Education is important for kids. What do you think?
Comments
  • Yes, definitely! Every child deserves the right to have an education.
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    • hi kosukethe you are spot on i got polio in the 40s there for i only had 2 years of schooling i did well in life BUT if i had a good education i would have done better and our countrys benefit
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      • I think it should be free. There are a lot of children that could go far in life if only they could go to school longer to learn. No one should be denied a good education.
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        • Should be free. When they get a higher education they qualify for higher paid jobs and pay more taxes
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          • The option is a free education at Public and Private schools Primary and Secondary and Tertiary education.
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            • It should be free so their parents don't have to spend money in order for their child to learn.
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              • I Think it should free, then it would be great for the people that don't have much money and can be educated like everybody else
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                • I think the option for free education should always be available, as it is at Public Primary Schools and Public High Schools. Is there such a thing as free University education? I don't mind the idea of Private High Schools which charge enrollment fees and have a reputation of producing good results amongst their students. At the end of the day, you get what you pay for becomes an important lesson in life. I doubt there can be such a thing as free University education, but wouldn't mind seeing such a thing on trial! :-)
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                  • Nothing is free. Money doesn't grow on trees. I think perhaps the old way of scholarships for students that show great potential could perhaps be a better way for further education. Basic education up to year 12 as much help as possible needs to be offered.
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                    • Free education should lead to a smarter society. Trying to raise good humans might be a better aim. Education of some sort is important for their future.
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                      • Required education should be free. That which allows a person to function and and possibly produce food and even build a shelter. Education that brings improvement to society should be provided by the government. They are spending our money.
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                        • Yes it should be & government need to allocate more money & resources to it
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                          • It depends on schools whether it should be free I work in a private school and it should not be free public schools yes
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                            • Yes.
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                              • The basics of education should be free and uniforms should be affordable not made by the most expensive company around. Extra curricular activities should have to be paid for and more fund raising assistance to the schools via the P & C Association to assist those children whose parents are finding it tough to make ends meet. But I don't agree with free pre-school programs - there is a good reason why 5 is the starting age for school and that's when children learn. The earlier things are just basically child-minding only. If you have children then look after them till they go to school. And let us all get off the merry-go-round of working to have everything, sometimes it's good to have a goal in mind and save up for it.
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                                • yes it should be free
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                                  • Yes! In early days in England people weren't encouraged to learn as it was feared that knowledge would bring about discontent among the populace that was considered only fit for hard manual labour. It is dangerous when only the wealthy have access to education. University fees are already prohibitive and some have to pay back high fees, so they are disadvantaged in relation to the wealthy.
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                                    • Yes. I don’t think it would encourage kids, but definitely would help families to educate their children - it would be good also cheaper/free uniforms, music, sport, etc.
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                                      • YES but the cost of books are not free .Return to being able to offset that cost against tax paid through tax returns or make them free too .Encourage kids to take care & look after them .If lost or damaged THEN charge for another issued
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                                        • I now so appreciate that my parents- who were not financially comfortable- funded my three years study after high school. Being a thoughtless egocentric 18yr old i didn't even consider if they could afford it. They just did it. I so wish i could thank them. Of course back in the 80s it was a massive deal cheaper than now. I do remember having so much fun discovering the world in that first year away from home that i lost my bursary funding. Best 3 years of my life haha.
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                                          • Yes it should for everyone
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                                            • I think it would be great if tertiary education could be free, like it used to be in Australia in the 80s. This would encourage young people to study and get better jobs when they finish
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                                              • free for all children
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                                                • Schools get parents to pay a student resources fee but I don't think the schools provide much at all. With the rising costs of living, I think it will be a relief for parents to get free education for their children.
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                                                  • Yes of course
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                                                    • Provided they reach a required standard, if they don't then there should be a charge to stop people trying to get something for no input
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                                                      • Education is free up to 12th grade. But that doesn’t make children want to do more educational things. We need to make it more interesting and fun to keep them engaged. But college should be free to those who truly want an education. If people want free education they should have to hold a certain grade point average.
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                                                        • I agree .A good point Catherine
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                                                      • Isn't it free already at public schools if you have a concession or low income earners card? Was went my kids went to school a few years ago
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                                                        • Of course
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                                                          • Yes
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                                                            • yes it would, with the quality of the education system today they should pay the kids to go to school
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                                                              • YES
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                                                                • If Uni was free the dentist wouldnt be able to cost so much
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                                                                  • ???
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                                                                • Education is very important. It should be available to everyone and it should be free.
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                                                                  • Sadly nothing is free. When something is free it doesn't register a value as if it was paid for. I think the basics should be given, with extras paid by parents. Schools also have to be discouraged on spending grants for "niceties" like new buildings or upgrading staff facilities when the money should be spent on the students. Those paretns who are struggling need to be assisted with costs to ensure their kids don't miss out.
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                                                                    • A good point .Perhaps charges could be refunded at the end of schooling & a certain standard should be attained to qualify for the refund
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                                                                  • Yes it should be free for Australian students, charge for overseas students.
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                                                                    • Of course it should be free even University but what I do expect to happen is all those Uni Students we train get to work here not go OS for a job and take all their learning along with them to help other companies and countries Australia Benefits from having highly educated people the only ones who do not is the Government of the Day as the better educated people are the less likely they are to believe the lies that get spread around at election time. But they all have better jobs more pay and contribute more to Tax to provide for the country. I would go as far s to say FREE EDUCATION to PhD or Masters Level and cut the rubbish out that people have turned Universities into Diploma Factories where they pay their money and get their Degree.
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                                                                      • A good point Colin if a certain standard not achieved no refund (as I suggested)
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                                                                      • We could also know who did Political Science and have them put down when they first start the course to save us all the problems that they will bring along when they finish the course.
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                                                                    • I belive general Ed should and specialised should have a limited cost
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                                                                      • We should only have state schools and all levels of education should be free including tertiary. I am sick of people moaning about Hecs debts, well I have one and I pay tax but I don't see why my tax should be used to supplement private schools or the Defence Force and mining companies but they do so shut the F**k up. Oh and by the way i am a retired left-wing history teacher, who could only teach the National curriculum as laid down by the Coalition government.
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                                                                        • Pity your language is foul mouthed
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                                                                        • GrumpyBsdEdith v
                                                                          I said I teach history not elocution. But I still had to teach the National curriculum as laid down by John Howard and his right wing cronies, who believed there was no massacre of First Nations people.
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                                                                      • Yes....a basic right in a rational country
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                                                                        • yes, but only real history, not the make believe crap they teach kids in the USA
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                                                                          • Governments have contributed millions of dollars to schools and yet reading, writing and maths do not meet international standards...teachers are more inclined to teach climate change and how re-write our history. We also have a bill of some 60 billion dollars owed by so called Uni Students and that is definitely not fair to taxpayers. I came from a humble family and my parents paid for my education until I commenced work in a Bank at the age of 15 and worked there for some 30 odd years...I don't think people today appreciate what they have and always want more!!
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                                                                            • Absolutely should be. Learning is beneficial for everyone. It'll increase the talent pool of that nation and provide easy opportunity for people to improve their life or advance their career.
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                                                                              • Absolutely; tertiary education should not be for the rich elite but available to all Australian citizens
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                                                                                • Public education is free
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                                                                                  • Having been at school when it was free, I think we took it for granted. When it came to advanced learning and there were fees, some of us from bigger families realized just how hard it was for parents to pay for several kids at different stages of their education and provide all the extra 'necessities', trips, clothes, gym necessities, etc,etc. Yes it would be nice but practical with our current state of world economic mess - who knows?
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                                                                                    • The question is a false premise. Nothing that is worthwhile in education and life is free. And tax payers end up paying for social services like education, so whether you pay upfront or pay later, education isn't free. That's why private schools have higher stats of graduations and higher test scores to get scholarships to go to University, etc than public schools.
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                                                                                      • In a word ….YES
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                                                                                        • Heck yeah!!
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                                                                                          • I think education should be free. This would free up more money for the increasing cost of living.
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                                                                                            • Someone has to pay. Be it taxpayer or individual. But yes I prefer to see basic education costs not fall on the individual. Even tho in NZ it is called 'free' there are many ongoing costs that fall to the individual[family] to pay. I did like the idea of 1st year of tertiary free, but felt there should be some strings eg if you don't complete your chosen course you had to pay -or ?. similar those who do complete courses should be bonded to the country for ? years and pay no interest on repayment of loans while bonded however there must be some payments towards lowering the debt
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                                                                                            • I know in Scotland if you are a citizen you can do your undergrad for free but you pay for anything further. Someone below me mentioned that the fees international students pay should be used for our students so they pay less in fees, that doesn't seem like a bad idea. The thing is that if education is "free" that just means tax payers are footing the bill so it isn't really free. There has to be a better way/system.
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                                                                                              • As mentioned below Education isn’t free. Nothing is free, somebody is paying the cost. Australia has a Trillion Dollars Of debt that Someone going to have to repay. So maybe It’s time that we start and maybe we should stop free Education first?
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                                                                                                • Yes to a certain point and I mean if a person wants to become a GP or advance their studies to get them a highly paid job then I think they should pay. Maybe not up front but once they have their highly paid job then of course they can pay off their Hex fees or what ever they are called. Unfortunately just because you do the course doesn't always mean you can get a job afterwards. Not all GP's should be GP's as some just don't have the manners or the compassion to be a good one. Then there a courses in art and history well students of these courses are just bludging in my opinion. Knew a 40 year old that went to uni to do an art degree and he did nothing with it so my point is why then? Money as he was on welfare while he was studying.
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                                                                                                  • Yes of course it should be. The HECS Debt system is a farce and as has been revealed, collectively, people already owe Tens of Billions, money which in all likelihood will never ever be paid. Many years ago it was and it included University Education. There are many thousands of Incredibly Intelligent, capable men and women who simply cannot afford to go to really good schools and progress on to University - where they get the training they need to enable them to discover such important things a Cures, Treatments, Vaccines etc. for all illnesses - MND, MS, AIDS, All Cancers, Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma, Parkinson's - the list is almost endless. These men and women are wasting their talents on almost pointless jobs, jobs which they hate. Without a Highly Educated Citizenry a Country and it's People cannot achieve their Full Potential. Without a Healthy Population a Country and it's people cannot achieve their Full Potential. Both Education and All Health should be "Free" - that is what OUR Taxes should be being used for and NOT to squander on Armaments, Submarines, Joint Strike Fighter Jets and war-mongering, Space exploration all of which are eating untold Trillions of Dollars and for what benefits? Does it really matter how old the World is? Does it really matter whether or not there are other Life Forms billions of kilometres away from Earth? Should we be pandering to other countries which are looking for a war with other countries?
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                                                                                                    • Both. Here in New Zealand and back where I am there are free education provide by the government but when private school then pay for it. Even university offer free courses to get you to the degree level then I agree to pay for that level because after education I can afford with my career job to pay for it. Am grateful my parents can afford to pay for my study back in Tonga and am here in New Zealand and use student loan to help me pay for it then work and pay later without interest. I remember my dad always said if he can do it anyone can do it if their excuse is not health issue.
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                                                                                                      • I agree,education should be free for all, and not only for the well heeled of our society
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                                                                                                        • no
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                                                                                                          • Yes...
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                                                                                                            • Yes and no. When I went to school it was but now it’s a racket. Parents are forced ( told) to go to a certain store for uniforms etc. even books expensive. My son had to get a book and was never used. I think those sort of books should be in library and used for that lesson. Problem is each year syllabus changes a new lists. When my older brother went to school his books were what I used. Every time at end of year paper would be full of books for sale.
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                                                                                                              • Education should be free in public schools because they still have expenses for parents. If you choose to send your child to private school then there fees should apply
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                                                                                                              • Yes keep them off the streets.
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                                                                                                                • Exactly what do you mean by free? There is nothing free about education, are you saying that taxpayers should pay for all education? The Labor Party in Australia stopped edcuation being totally paid for by the taxpayer back in the 1990's. However, as I said, education is not free somebody has to pay.
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                                                                                                                  • Totally
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                                                                                                                    • The country could not afford this. I do think really poor families should be helped a lot more however. Perhaps it would be a good idea to stop funding private schools though, if you want you child to have this type of education the parents should will to pay for all expenses.
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                                                                                                                      • yes
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                                                                                                                        • Yes 100%
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                                                                                                                          • Yes
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                                                                                                                            • Education is funded through taxes so we pay for it anyway although all schools keep asking parents to donate money for all sorts of extra stuff
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                                                                                                                              • Yes it should be free, perhaps they should put more of our tax towards education as our children are the future of this country.
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                                                                                                                                • All education should be free if we want to retain the best minds in the country
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                                                                                                                                  • It's already free here in NZ (up to secondary school level). Also first year of Tertiary is free.
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                                                                                                                                    • Everyone should have the equal right to a education without discrimination based on race, gender, sexuality, financial status etc.
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                                                                                                                                      • Of course, that way we help grow Australian skilled workforce without having to rely on overseas professionals. Time to wake up Australia and support our own.
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                                                                                                                                        • I know of two friends who went their separate ways after high school, one went on to get a degree in engineering, and one did an electrical apprenticeship, the lad who did the degree told his mate he was a fool no furthering himself, the lad who now works for an electrical supplier earning 80,000 a year cut off his old friends power supply for nonpayment his friend was never employed, education is overrated in my book, it is for some and those who want it figure out how to do it, I find no difference in private schooling and public, I was a public student, had rubber bands to hold my shoes together on more than one occasion, I am now a proud grandfather, not much money in the bank but I survive and I look after my family independently, 2 of my 3 kids own their own houses, maybe I am lucky I don't know but I think the education system is ok as is needs a lot of tweaking in other issues though
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                                                                                                                                          • I didn't vote for Morrison, and when I say overrated I mean it's for some and not for others, some people are built for trades and some for higher roles, the education system needs to sought these things out and start teaching life instead of dreams, I didn't mean to offend you it's my opinion is all. I did high school, my 3 kids did high school they are all doing well because they got jobs and worked, I know several kids their age who have diplomas and work at maccas and hungry jacks where my kids are in their own homes and are on the home run of playing them off
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                                                                                                                                        • Education is the most important start to life
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                                                                                                                                          • Yeah, schools should be free. But for those grown-ups in the picture attached to the discussion - they are already old enough to pay for themselves, taking loans and repaying.
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                                                                                                                                            • isn't just corny how people think things are free !!!!! The government pays, which means it's you and I who pay. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. If you think education is expensive, try ignorance... but that's another whole subject
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                                                                                                                                              • Yes, I think Primary and Secondary public schools should be free, but not Private and university education.
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                                                                                                                                                • Yes
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                                                                                                                                                  • No, we had to pay for school when I was younger. Maybe a little cheapier it is crazy how expensive college is these days, trying to get a education.
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                                                                                                                                                    • Yes.
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                                                                                                                                                      • Yes I think so
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                                                                                                                                                        • The problem with youth today they want EVERYTHING now and FREE as long as someone else pays
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                                                                                                                                                          • Education should be free and it is proven that societies with free tertiary education have better standards of living etc for their populations. I paid for my degree BUT I believe it should be free to all. Isn't the high cost of degrees just another barrier for people and another lifelong burden to pay off if they can't pay for it up front? People should not have to choose between spending money on a or b because they can't have both (ie: cost of education vs downpayment for a home etc)
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                                                                                                                                                          • Such a sweeping generalisation Bill.
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                                                                                                                                                        • IT IS THE COST OF EVERYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH EDUCATION LIKE UNIFORMS, BOOKS. ETC THAT CRIPPLES THE PEOPLE THAT CAN NOT AFFORD EDUCATION
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                                                                                                                                                          • Yes, education should be free for everyone including college.
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                                                                                                                                                            • The whole idea of the public school system was to be a free education here in the USA.
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                                                                                                                                                              • It’s not free. I raised my children and paid school taxes and fees for public schools. Now that I am retired and living on SSI income, I still have public school taxes on my property! That’s not fair for seniors on limited income with no children in schools!!
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                                                                                                                                                                • yes.
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                                                                                                                                                                  • Ask yourself....Who benefits? Then whoever benefits, needs to pay, n'est pas? Free means that someone is paying for it somehow. If I benefit then I am willing to pay but if I do not and someone else has to, I probably will not get too much out of something that is free, after all, it is free. Paying makes me more invested and more likely to get something out of it to justify the expenditure.
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                                                                                                                                                                    • Society benefits from having a population that is better educated, more likely to be gainfully employed in jobs where they can support themselves and not need government welfare to make ends meet so in my opinion, taxes spent on making education free is a benefit to society as a whole and will help people climb out of a poor socio-economic staus and prevent people from sinking into this black hole.
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                                                                                                                                                                  • I remember doing a course and a student openly informed everyone if she did the courses she can continue receiving the dole. I do not think that is fair. She was not a genuine student for the right reasons. This would make it hard for those genuinely wanting to get in and do a course hoping to find a job at the end. I remember a few others like this. Three males doing the course again for the dole and then left shortly after to go travelling. A waste of Government resources that could benefit others.
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                                                                                                                                                                    • YES.......
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                                                                                                                                                                      • USA has issues (racism and sexism - just to name two issues) - which could lead to a second civil war - a free education at a public community college or at a four-year public college/university could level the playing field (attaining a job with a future) - with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.80 out of a possibility of 4.00 GPA (annual) to maintain your free status for a maximum number of 4 years at a public community college and/or at a public college/university) Not everyone born in the USA has "rich parents" or can work to pay for a "higher education" and still stay above water (drowning level) at the same time! To get a Master or Ph. D - should not be free (under any circumstances). Life is not fair for everyone (despite the myth if you work hard enough - anything is possible - HAHA) - especially if you have the "bad luck" to be born in the most racist and sexist country on the planet (USA)!
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                                                                                                                                                                        • No
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                                                                                                                                                                          • It has been free in Australia for years for Primary and Secondary. Uni fees apply but they can go on the Hex Fee System and when finally working it gets paid off. However, as we have so many coming in from overseas taking the place of our Australian students perhaps a portion of their fees should subsidise our kids uni fees. There are some useless degrees though which should be eliminated as they are really just a free ride. Uni should be for students who want to advance in a subject/s that are actually beneficial to society and themselves. Free education will not encourage kids to do more but for Uni it should be better controlled than it is now. When I went to school our marks were out of 100 and if you went under 50 you failed and did not go up to the next class. Great motivation and you knew exactly how you did. The marking these days is weak and do not motivate at all. If a child is struggling then he needs tutoring. This can be bought about by other kids in the classes above who are capable of teaching them how things are done. Sometimes it just takes a little extra time one on one. My daughter used to help a lot of kids in her class as she had time to explain to them instead of the rota yakity yak some teachers go on with. Unfortunately, although the school fees are paid the extra curriculum stuff is not and this can be very expensive.
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                                                                                                                                                                            • Yes. All education should be free. Everyone benefits.
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                                                                                                                                                                              • HOW WHEN THE KID / ADULT NEVER GETS A JOB JUST KEEPS GOING TO SCHOOL
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                                                                                                                                                                              • Hopefully, they are learning and increasing their intelligence.
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                                                                                                                                                                            • YES THE EDUCATION MUST BE FREE BECAUSE SOME PARENTS CANT AFFORD TO LET THERE CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL SPECIALLY THE PARENTS DONT HAVE WORK AND THEY CANT AFFORD FOR THE EXPENSES SPECIALLY THE TUITION ARE EXPENSIVE.
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                                                                                                                                                                              • BEAN SOUP FIND GRANTS TAKE A LOAN ETCNOTHING INLIFE SHOULD B FREE HOW DO PEOPLE LEARN TO WORK IF EVERY THING IS FREE
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                                                                                                                                                                            • Why would education being free encourage more maths and English learning?
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