From: utzoo!decvax!minow
Newsgroups: net.followup
Title: Re: How can they do this
Article-I.D.: decvax.315
Posted: Tue Oct 26 18:32:31 1982
Received: Wed Oct 27 09:28:56 1982
References: vax1.231

Kurt Guntheroth suggested that "education is not a right" and the student
who doesn't have the money, can't convince a bank to lend him the money,
and can't get a scholarship from some organization probably doesn't
belong in college.

Touched a hot button there, Kurt.  But the government should recognize
the value -- in tax revenues if nothing else -- to the society as a
whole of the availability of an education to everyone who wants one
and is willing to work hard enough to stay the course.  As is probably
evident to frequent readers of this forum, some part of my education
was in Sweden.  A Master's degree in Linguistics, to be precise.
The Swedish Universities are tuition-free (there was a $10/term
student union fee and you had to buy books, find a place to live, etc.)

What did the Swedish society get in return?  Well, there's about $100,000
of my combined salery sitting in the government-run pension fund.
While I was going to school and working, I was actively contributing to
the country's general welfare -- creating work for brewers and bookstore
clerks, if nothing else.  I also left Sweden with an appreciation for
the problems and concerns of a people which have noticable affected my
work and personal life.

Does that mean that everyone will just camp out in medical school or what?
Nope, the university departments establish quotas and students apply
during their last year in the gymnasium (about 18-19 years).  Entrance
is on the basis of grade-point average only (medical schools generally
require 4.0 out of 4.0, and run a lottery for the places).  There is
also a second path for people who have worked, are at least 25 years old
and can convince the entrance board that all concerned will benefit from
their admittance.

One result is that the medical school graduation classes have been 50%
female for the last few years.

The Swedish method may well not be appropriate for the USA -- there are
no simple solutions to complex problems.  My feeling, however, is that
the attitude represented by Kurt's note is selfish, short-sighted, and
ultimately damaging to the needs of this country and its people.

Martin Minow, MA (U. of Ill), fil.kand. (U. of Stockholm)
decvax!minow