Education is never a waste.
My mother used to say that a lot. We, as a family, believe in education, of any kind. All of us kids went to college. My mother learned German at a later date because it was something she had always wanted to do and because some of her ancestors were German. I earned my Masters degree when I was in my early 50s. My grandparents, even though they didnt go to college, spent their lives learning, on their own, one thing after another Braille, bird-watching, book-binding, photography and needlework. (Those are just the ones I remember.)
Education, and learning, comes in many forms and doesnt always have to come from a learning institution. Everyday living affords us learning in many forms.
But, if an education, especially post-secondary education, must come from a college or university, the money needs to come from somewhere. And Pell grants serve a much-needed purpose. Pell grants were established in 1965, and in 2011, nearly $36 billion in grant aid was available to qualifying students. For many people, the grants are essential for earning degrees and launching careers.
The Federal Pell Grant Program provides those grants on the basis of need to low-income undergraduates (and some postbaccalaureate students) to make education affordable. There are certain qualifications for the grant, based on income, cost of attending the school, whether the student is full-time or part-time, and whether the student attends for a full year or less. Financial need to determined by the U.S. Department of Education with a formula established by Congress. That information is given by a student filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The federal grants fit President Obamas goal that every child in this nation [should] have the chance to go to college, even if their parents arent rich. That goal is being met at many colleges around the country.
According to the Huffington Post, a budget plan proposed by Representative Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), who chairs the House Budget Committee, would chop away at Pell grant eligibility, thereby reducing total Pell grants by about $170 billion over the next decade; allow the interest rate for federally subsidized Stafford loans to double; end student loan interest subsidies for those still in school; and make Pell spending discretionary instead of mandatory allowing further cuts down the line. Pell grants, the largest source of federal financial aid, currently help more than 9 million students to afford college. Following last years budget standoffs, next years maximum Pell grant of $5,645 will cover just one-third of the average cost of college the smallest share ever.
Pell grants should not go away or be reduced. And not just because my daughter is going to school now because of a Pell grant. Education, and the ability to get an education, must always be available to those who want it.
Jeanne Archambeault
Mancos Times editor