Isn't this unfair? Prisoners getting free bachelor's degrees from a private college

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really OP? eyeroll.

Wouldn't you rather these convicts learn something useful while they are serving time - and perhaps give them a chance to be productive, self supporting individuals when they leave?

And for those that don't leave....how exactly is their degree behind bars of any consequence to your low/middle class kid.

Finally, I bet you you looked hard enough, you could find a school willing to help your child go to college. If your kid is a good student, find a school that has stats far below their own and get merit aid.

Prison is for punishment

It is also for rehabilitation. Up until the 1970s/80s, US prisons used to focus a lot more on rehabilitation, encouraging inmates to develop trade skills to help them find legal employment after their release. But then the "tough on crime movement" started that focused more on punishment, with the private prison movement (which does not want to spend a money on anything that is not strictly necessary) following shortly thereafter. Opportunities and resources for rehabilitation dropped dramatically and, not surprisingly, recidivism rates skyrocketed. If we want to reduce crime in this country, rehabilitation, including education and job training, need to be given a higher priority so that former inmates have viable options for legal employment and are not forced to return to crime to support themselves.

But Larla lives in a nice neighborhood with very little crime so what do they care about how these people fair after they get out of prison. That only affects poor people of color. Larla DESERVES the same amount of money for college.

In all seriousness, I think college should be free for all. I would make the entrance exams super hard so that the schools have to actually teach our kids something instead of just babysitting, but once they get in and prove they are capable, no cost to students.

[Anonymous]

Gosh yeah, something that overall benefits society isn't worth it when it might negatively impact your kid if you choose to move to Michigan and apply to a not super competitive expensive college or something.

Eat worms, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really OP? eyeroll.

Wouldn't you rather these convicts learn something useful while they are serving time - and perhaps give them a chance to be productive, self supporting individuals when they leave?

And for those that don't leave....how exactly is their degree behind bars of any consequence to your low/middle class kid.

Finally, I bet you you looked hard enough, you could find a school willing to help your child go to college. If your kid is a good student, find a school that has stats far below their own and get merit aid.

Prison is for punishment

It is also for rehabilitation. Up until the 1970s/80s, US prisons used to focus a lot more on rehabilitation, encouraging inmates to develop trade skills to help them find legal employment after their release. But then the "tough on crime movement" started that focused more on punishment, with the private prison movement (which does not want to spend a money on anything that is not strictly necessary) following shortly thereafter. Opportunities and resources for rehabilitation dropped dramatically and, not surprisingly, recidivism rates skyrocketed. If we want to reduce crime in this country, rehabilitation, including education and job training, need to be given a higher priority so that former inmates have viable options for legal employment and are not forced to return to crime to support themselves.

But Larla lives in a nice neighborhood with very little crime so what do they care about how these people fair after they get out of prison. That only affects poor people of color. Larla DESERVES the same amount of money for college.

In all seriousness, I think college should be free for all. I would make the entrance exams super hard so that the schools have to actually teach our kids something instead of just babysitting, but once they get in and prove they are capable, no cost to students.

I'd be thrilled with this assuming that it was limited to certain degrees. You want a degree in education, nursing, CS, engineering etc. and are smart? We'll pay for it. You want a degree in 17th century french poetry? Feel free to pay yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really OP? eyeroll.

Wouldn't you rather these convicts learn something useful while they are serving time - and perhaps give them a chance to be productive, self supporting individuals when they leave?

And for those that don't leave....how exactly is their degree behind bars of any consequence to your low/middle class kid.

Finally, I bet you you looked hard enough, you could find a school willing to help your child go to college. If your kid is a good student, find a school that has stats far below their own and get merit aid.

Prison is for punishment

It is also for rehabilitation. Up until the 1970s/80s, US prisons used to focus a lot more on rehabilitation, encouraging inmates to develop trade skills to help them find legal employment after their release. But then the "tough on crime movement" started that focused more on punishment, with the private prison movement (which does not want to spend a money on anything that is not strictly necessary) following shortly thereafter. Opportunities and resources for rehabilitation dropped dramatically and, not surprisingly, recidivism rates skyrocketed. If we want to reduce crime in this country, rehabilitation, including education and job training, need to be given a higher priority so that former inmates have viable options for legal employment and are not forced to return to crime to support themselves.

But Larla lives in a nice neighborhood with very little crime so what do they care about how these people fair after they get out of prison. That only affects poor people of color. Larla DESERVES the same amount of money for college.

In all seriousness, I think college should be free for all. I would make the entrance exams super hard so that the schools have to actually teach our kids something instead of just babysitting, but once they get in and prove they are capable, no cost to students.

I'd be thrilled with this assuming that it was limited to certain degrees. You want a degree in education, nursing, CS, engineering etc. and are smart? We'll pay for it. You want a degree in 17th century french poetry? Feel free to pay yourself.

No, those degrees have a use as well. If they are offered at a university, it's free. Just because you don't appreciate something and see no use for it, doesn't mean that there is no place for it in society.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To help your reading probably helpful to decode:
Middle class students = White kids
Convicted criminals = Black people

It actually would have cut this thread in half.

True and if you want to cut it a little more,

Convicted criminals = people stuck in generational poverty
middle class students = people not stuck in generational poverty

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not upset prisoners have this option.

I’m upset non-prisoners don’t

+1 education is a right

[Anonymous]

85% of juvenile inmates are functionally illiterate (Stiff competition for OP’s family)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really OP? eyeroll.

Wouldn't you rather these convicts learn something useful while they are serving time - and perhaps give them a chance to be productive, self supporting individuals when they leave?

And for those that don't leave....how exactly is their degree behind bars of any consequence to your low/middle class kid.

Finally, I bet you you looked hard enough, you could find a school willing to help your child go to college. If your kid is a good student, find a school that has stats far below their own and get merit aid.

I bet you're wrong. And pray tell, why don't the convicted felons need to have "good" stats? And by good you mean great. Yet most criminals are bottom their class at lower end high schools. Yet to get free college via merit and financial aid as a law-abiding kid, you need near perfect stats and finish at the top of the class. How is this in any way fair to donut hole low and middle class kids?

Um, I don’t think you need top stats to get into this particular college and I doubt you’d send your kid there.

Sure, let’s complain about crime but do nothing to give people opportunities so they are recidivist. Great plan.

For 100% free? Yes, you would need near perfect stats. Or rich parents, of course. Or be a felon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To help your reading probably helpful to decode:
Middle class students = White kids
Convicted criminals = Black people

It actually would have cut this thread in half.

Only your race-baiting butt thinks this. The photo used by the university features mostly white convicts.

[Anonymous]

Only in DCUM would you hear someone moaning that prisoners have it easier than middle and upper class kids.

[Anonymous]

Whether or not the fees are covered, there is no such thing as a free degree. A degree still has to be earned. Our daycare provides free tuition/fees to staff members pursuing a degree; many have enrolled and taken classes, but not everyone has graduated. This is a great opportunity that is an investment in the communities to which the inmates re-integrate once they have served their time and are back in society. And I’m sure that it’s a program that many have tried, but only those with real commitment see it through and earn the degree. I think it’s a wise investment, and I hope if people re-integrate into my neighborhood, they have an education and have more potential to earn an honest living.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To help your reading probably helpful to decode:
Middle class students = White kids
Convicted criminals = Black people

It actually would have cut this thread in half.

Only your race-baiting butt thinks this. The photo used by the university features mostly white convicts.

Uh, no. PP is not the only person who thinks this. Black people are disproportionately represented in the prison population (38%) make up only 12% of the middle class.

Haven't you ever seen 13th? It's a good documentary, you should check it out.

[Anonymous]

Unfair in what way? The inmate is unlikely to have parents who can pay for them to go to school, so they would quality for FA anyways. And they can’t work outside of prison to save up to pay for it themselves. Might as well make their prison year productive and hopefully able to support themselves in the future - win win for the prisoner and taxpayers.

[Anonymous]

So do you want parolees and ex-convicts to get a job and re-enter society in some meaningful way, or do you want them to be forced back into criminal activity to make a living?

[Anonymous]

It's unfair that some people go into eternal debt to get a degree while prisoners can get one for free, yes. And it's unfair that some forego a degree at all bc they can't afford it while prisoners can get one for free, yes. And it's unfair that some people can't afford to stop working their hours to take the time to go to school while prisoners have no rent and no job and can afford the time it takes for a degree, yes.

But! The majority of prisoners WILL be released back into society at some point, so I figure the more educated people we have roaming around, the better.

Love,
Someone who can't get a bachelors degree