Dependent-Minded

Some weeks ago, I was following an email thread surreptitiously. Admittedly, I can, at times, be a little bit of a thought voyeur. While I enjoy exchanging messages with a number of different folks about topics as varied as the fate and reminiscences of our alma mater to the modern state of the free market, I sometimes simply watch the interactions as they fill my inbox, deciding not to enter the fray. Much like sitting silent at the dinner table as the rest of the family relates stories of their passing day I enjoy the discourse uninterrupted by my own participation. At any rate, the communication that garnered my attention pertained to access to higher education.
This time, unlike the countless times that this rather commonplace topic struck my ear, I was reminded of my own graduate education in Bloomington many years ago. While I have no idea if the policy still exists, at the time entering students were required to sign a pledge promising that we would not hold a job during our first year of study. Perhaps the intentions were good enough – working students were more likely to struggle in the vigorous academic environment. But as often is the case with good intentions, there was a more nefarious side to consider. Working class students found themselves mandated to get loans to attend. And for anyone pursuing that education immediately following undergraduate completion, they were likely required to get a parental cosigner exposing Mom & Dad to the debt obligation. The alternative was to not attend the school – or to lie and get a job anyway. You can guess my choice.

Does it make sense to create systems that reward those who chose to become dependent upon institutionally imposed mandates rather than individuals who are willing to work harder to accomplish their goals?

This column was published on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 in the Current in Carmel, Current in Westfield, Current in Fishers , and Current in Noblesville - http: //youarecurrent.com/

Photo taken from http://blackbeltreview.wordpress.com