Thread by @mark_riedl

The US college system is under a lot of stress right now. Also, just about everything about this thread is wrong

https://twitter.com/sama/status/1505597901011005442

College debt is a huge problem. States have been underfunding public universities for the last 40 years. This is one of the main costs of exploding student debt. The states should honor their commitments to educating their populations. Boomers were the last generation to benefit

The federal government could step in an subsidize public universities if the political will were there. Cancelling student debt is a band-aid over the grave injustice of the last 40 years. It can and should be accompanied by free public college. This is doable.

Anyway, public universities still relatively cost effective means of training the tech sector. If the tech industry values this service it should support universities more (and not just the top 5) or push state and federal government to support this public investment in labor

Learning technical skills without a college education is fine. But let’s remember that this usually happens when people have high levels of privilege. There is a vast pool of creativity basically locked out of the tech sector right now.

How many future <fill in your favorite tech personality>s haven’t happened because of lack of equity? (But go on congratulating yourself for your privilege.)

Universities were never places of hyper focused learning (at least not the modern university). They operate as social network building institutions, and also relatively safe places to learn to become adults.

What’s wrong with stating one’s privileges up front? What are you afraid of? That the truth will make you look weak? Man up.

I’m white, male, and my father was a professor. I had mentors that helped me, plus a couple of really lucky breaks. Hey, my self-worth didn’t crumble.