American values : education

One of the values, expressed in a ostentatious way, which characterizes the United States, is the education. Here, people show very clearly and proudly their passion and membership (as a student, as a student's parent or relative) to their schools, high schools, colleges.

 

In fact, as for sport's teams, one may see logos and mascots of all these different schools exposed everywhere : bomber stickers, flags, t-shirts, caps, pens and note books, etc. People are honored to be a part of the community they chose and belong to, and pay every year, several thousands of dollars to enter the most prestigious schools and universities of the country, when they can afford them. 

 

Indeed, because a year in college cost in general between 5,000 (the less expensive are the state universities) and 30,000 dollars, most of the families/students make bank loans to finance their education, sometimes encouraged by scholarships. To be in debt very early in their life, is the everyday life of the majority of Americans.  

 

As far as I am concerned, I don't approve this system that consists to pay the access to a good education, or at least, an education. More than my habits or my culture, my principles and values don't fit with this system, and I can't support nor agree with it. For me, education and health are two important values that should be priorities, and be affordable for everyone, in a reasonable way, and financed in a common effort government/state/people, according to their means.  

 

For example in France, the country I come from and studied, public schools and universities are really good for most of them, and accept everybody. To enroll in college (medicine, communication, art, etc) costs about 300/500 euros per year (385/650 dollars). 

 

I learned few weeks ago that the governor of Louisiana stopped to financially help UNO, a state university, because he prefers support the private education. What a shame and an injustice for all these people of Louisiana that face that terrible reality.