[cloudsec9]

The value of education to some isn't knowledge, it's how that contributes to your ability to do or get a job, and that is sad. Having a well-rounded and whole person isn't seen as valuable, when it actually really is.

The author seems to yearn for yesteryear, when having "a degree" gave you a leg up on getting a job. But, when you finish high school, you often aren't capable of doing a job out of the gate either. Before, employers would train employees and give them a leg up. Nowadays, employers expect workers to have a good amount of understanding before even starting -- so a 2 year program of some sort.

I do think that there have been both state and federal cuts to higher ed, which have shifted things so that tuition is a much higher % of the pie for learning institutions then in the past.

The easy thing would be to boost those payments again, or give grants/"forgiveness" to those in challenging circumstances.