Introduction.
In the past few years the debate on need and consequences of paying college students has yielded no substantial recommendations. In the modern society, everyone including college students is looking forward to have as many means of making money as possible. The issue of paying college students, however, creates controversy on educational value, and the future of such students. Colleges provide a vital and invaluable service to communities. Education cannot be valued against anything provided in colleges (Grubb 2009, pp 84).
Some argue that education is the key to prosperity, and, therefore, to boost the motivation of learners, they should be paid some amount. However, most schools are well equipped with well paid educators who do not need anything from the students rather than their attention. Paying the students may imply that they lack educational value at an early age. It would also mean that these students will not work hard to leap the success that comes with learning (Bullock 2010, pp 49). Paying college students would compromise on education quality. This would lead to increased cases of low performance, and contribute to cases of behavioral change among college students. It would also lead to discrimination in colleges where students from poor families will not get enough attention.
The matter has been an issue of concern to the government, different school administrators, scholarship issuers, and parents from middle class families. This issue became of concern from the emergence of student athletes payments, in early 2000. The debate was that paying student athletes compromises on their education (Grubb 2009, pp 86). Such students do not find any educational value from the perception that learning is done to have a stable future, which according to them athletics accord them.
Paying college students brings about conflicts among parents, teachers and students. When teachers pay students to attend classes their salaries are reduced. The next observable thing is that the teachers lose money, and, therefore, ask for pay hikes from the government. If their pleas are consented then school boards receive lesser pays. This means that governmental taxes reduce, and a majority of school boards fail to provide school equipment.
Paying college students implies shrinking school budgets; schools will have less money to implement on developmental program that would assist students in focusing on their future (Grubb 2009, pp 87). If students get paid to attend colleges then these institutions would lack support. Learning institutions rely massively on tuition fees, and if this money is used for other purposes, then there would be no money to cater for operations. In addition, if students get paid their parents in turn get charged of this money. This makes no difference; the promise of betterment of one’s future from learning should be enough to motivate students rather than paying them to realize the promise.
The aim of going to school is to advance oneself in knowledge, skills, and behavior. It assist in realizing ones dreams, and builds on career development (Bullock 2010, pp 46). If students are paid to attend these institutions they tend to lose focus on career building. They go to school for the sake of receiving payments, and not for what they gain. The quality and value of education is, therefore, lost. Realizing their potential becomes unimaginable, and such students become helpless when their college term ends, since they do not have the necessary skills required to work.
Different points of view regarding the issue.
Instead of paying students, schools and other institutions should focus on granting scholarships (Seidman 2005, pp 232). The criterion of selecting the students who deserve the scholarships would be the challenge in such a policy. However, offering scholarships to students who perform in class, sporting activities, or those from poor families would add value on education. Such scholarships should be paid directly to schools, and not handed in form of cash to students. Scholarships would not impact on school’s running costs and teachers salaries; rather they would reduce on the budget. With scholarships, students will realize the need to work hard, and be motivated to be on top.
Reference.
Bullock, Gregory P. Grades, Money, Health: The Book Every College Student Should Read. S.l.: Acute Books, 2010. Print.
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Grubb, W N. The Money Myth: School Resources, Outcomes, and Equity. New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 2009. Print. 87
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Seidman, Alan. College Student Retention: Formula for Student Success. Westport, Conn: Praeger Publishers, 2005. Print. 235
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