Aspen Institute holds panel discussion on community colleges for financial gain

The panels were convened at the Aspen Institute, February 4, Monday, in Washington, DC, including the one devoted to community colleges.

Though the concept has been around for over a hundred years, the community colleges hadn't found their niche in academia until the 1990s.  Were they an extension of high school, a sort of remedial secondary school for those students who wanted entry to some four-year college; or, were they really a trade school with a scattering of some high school subjects--just what?  Having taught some years in a community college in the Chicago area and thinking that community colleges offer opportunities to improve one's financial future by providing on-the-job training while encouraging them to increase their participation in their society beyond the level of an ordinary citizen, I have witnessed jockeying over the years that the movement has edged itself into higher education as a legitimate way for its graduates to become bona fide members of their community in good standing.  More likely than not, they have a job that the community college trained them for and they take civic pride in the duties and activities afforded their status as the stable backbone of their society.

Indeed, in some states, the government is so enamored by their presence and by their contributions to the common weal that they encourage the upcoming crop of youth to take advantage of their educational opportunities free of charge! Just pay for texts and room and board.