America's got some catching up to do!

[stratovani]

Bottom Line - Canada tops list of the most-educated countries

Actually, the US is doing pretty good in postsecondary education, coming in fourth, according to this article. What really surprised me is that 50% of Canada's population has some postsecondary education.

In my opinion countries need to invest heavily in education. It should be one of a country's top priorities, and it's pretty much the best and only way for a country to progress.

Thoughts?

[SoonerMatt]

I can't say I'm surprised by this. The US has always ranked well in postsecondary education and we usually dominate international top 10 rankings. If it were for high school education, though....

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by stratovani

Bottom Line - Canada tops list of the most-educated countries

Actually, the US is doing pretty good in postsecondary education, coming in fourth, according to this article. What really surprised me is that 50% of Canada's population has some postsecondary education.

In my opinion countries need to invest heavily in education. It should be one of a country's top priorities, and it's pretty much the best and only way for a country to progress.

Thoughts?

I agree that education = good, what I will say though, some people need to realise that University isn't the only viable post-seconday education. I know a lot of folk who are doing well with trades these days!

Surprised the UK is only 37%.

I'm going to root around and see if I can find the stats for Scotland alone. Scottish students studying in Scotland get up to 5 years of post-high school education paid for them, so I suspect it could be slightly higher than the UK average.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by stratovani

In my opinion countries need to invest heavily in education. It should be one of a country's top priorities, and it's pretty much the best and only way for a country to progress.

Thoughts?

"The weekend at the college didn't turn out like you planned,
The things that pass for knowledge I can't understand"

I have my issues with what passes as "education" in the States.
I find that the desire to learn and actively pursuing my interests has provided me with a lot more knowledge than I ever obtained sitting in class. YMMV.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Scottish students studying in Scotland get up to 5 years of post-high school education paid for them, so I suspect it could be slightly higher than the UK average.

What about Scottish bloodlines living in the US? Will the motherland pay for my schooling as well?

Im sure a lot more 'mericans would pursue postsecondary education if it didnt cost so gaddanged much.

[SoonerMatt]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

What about Scottish bloodlines living in the US? Will the motherland pay for my schooling as well?

Im sure a lot more 'mericans would pursue postsecondary education if it didnt cost so gaddanged much.

+1 to both of these. More affordable college has been a platform every presidential candidate since Reagan has stood on but it's all moot when universities increase tuition every year.

[Pauler1976]

Agree with all above, the tuition cost for my whole 4 years at University (In the 90's) would still be considerably cheaper than 1 year at a US equivalent University. Canada's priorities are Education and Health.

[Jinro]

Are they only basing this title of "most educated" on the amount of postsecondary graduates, GDP, and money that the country puts into education? Shouldn't they be focusing on, you know, whether those postsecondary graduates are indeed actually educated?

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by Pauler1976

Agree with all above, the tuition cost for my whole 4 years at University (In the 90's) would still be considerably cheaper than 1 year at a US equivalent University. Canada's priorities are Education and Health.

I wish the US would wisen up

[stratovani]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

"The weekend at the college didn't turn out like you planned,
The things that pass for knowledge I can't understand"

I have my issues with what passes as "education" in the States.
I find that the desire to learn and actively pursuing my interests has provided me with a lot more knowledge than I ever obtained sitting in class. YMMV.

Got to agree with you there, Matt. I feel like I've learned a ton of things outside of the classroom, like all I've learned here at TB. You have to have a love of learning in life, which unfortunately people have too little of these days.

[Correlli]

5th here. Come on kiwi's, smarten up.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by stratovani

Got to agree with you there, Matt. I feel like I've learned a ton of things outside of the classroom, like all I've learned here at TB. You have to have a love of learning in life, which unfortunately people have too little of these days.

Agreed. I was never the greatest student, academically. My teachers mostly liked me though, because I was seriously interested in learning. Some good teachers were disappointed with me for getting low grades, as I clearly understood the material, but refused to do schoolwork on my own time (homework). Some of the best teachers actually understood my stance, and gave me alternative opportunities to pass, which I did.

It is sad that there are a lot of people who are complacent enough to not seek out further knowledge. Gladly, I think that many of those types are not bass players (or at least dont hang out with bass players).

[Steve]

America's not nearly the place it used to be or as great as we seem to need to think it is.

Not the highest standard of living.
Not the best educated
Not "the best healthcare system in the world" no matter how many friggan times they say it is....it ain't.

And not nearly as easy to get out of as it it is to get into for all those "well, if it's so bad, why don't you just leave?" types.

[NWB]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

"The weekend at the college didn't turn out like you planned,
The things that pass for knowledge I can't understand"

I have my issues with what passes as "education" in the States.
I find that the desire to learn and actively pursuing my interests has provided me with a lot more knowledge than I ever obtained sitting in class. YMMV.

I think you have to keep in mind that there is a huge variety of post-secondary education opportunities in this country. It's really a matter of seeking out the education environment/program that fits you best.

[NWB]

[quote=stratovani;12140913
In my opinion countries need to invest heavily in education. It should be one of a country's top priorities, and it's pretty much the best and only way for a country to progress.

Thoughts?[/QUOTE]

I agreee completely and wholeheartedly.

Unfortunately, under current economic conditions, education is being deeply cut (50% for universities!) in my state of Washington.

When the time comes, my son may very well go to Canada for his post-secondary education.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

What about Scottish bloodlines living in the US? Will the motherland pay for my schooling as well?

Im sure a lot more 'mericans would pursue postsecondary education if it didnt cost so gaddanged much.

Sadly I don't think so bud

The UK is starting to ramp up university costs. Thankfully they aren't too unrealistic (yet), and tuition can generally be paid back afterwards (don't know if that's the case in the US?)

[LiquidMidnight]

Originally Posted by SoonerMatt

+1 to both of these. More affordable college has been a platform every presidential candidate since Reagan has stood on but it's all moot when universities increase tuition every year.

Unfortunately, the tuition issue is largely a state problem. In my state, Pennsylvania, the past couple of administrations, whether R or D, seem to have had a war against public post-secondary education. This past year, all of the schools in my universitiy's system had to increase tuition due to the govenor cutting post-secondary funding state funding by 50%. I actually lucked out as a doctoral student, and my tuition only went up by about $1200 a year. However, students who are carrying 15 credits a semester aren't in such a good boat; their tuition jumped thousands. I really don't see why anyone would come to my university system out-of-state with what they'd be paying in tuition now.

[LiquidMidnight]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Sadly I don't think so bud

The UK is starting to ramp up university costs. Thankfully they aren't too unrealistic (yet), and tuition can generally be paid back afterwards (don't know if that's the case in the US?)

I remember reading years ago that there was some scholarship money somewhere for people who played the bagpipes.

I do have some Scottish ancestory. I guess I chose the wrong instrument when I decided to pick up the bass.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Sadly I don't think so bud

The UK is starting to ramp up university costs. Thankfully they aren't too unrealistic (yet), and tuition can generally be paid back afterwards (don't know if that's the case in the US?)

Tuition has been skyrocketing around here for some time.
When I first went to a CC in 2002 it was $11 a unit, most classes being 3 units. About a year later they hiked tuition up to $33 a unit. Thats not too expensive still, but Im talking community college here. Ive heard rates went down breifly, but Ive also heard recently theyve gone back up.

Originally Posted by LiquidMidnight

I remember reading years ago that there was some scholarship money somewhere for people who played the bagpipes.

I do have some Scottish ancestory. I guess I chose the wrong instrument when I decided to pick up the bass.

What if we were to play our basses while wearing a kilt?

[stratovani]

Originally Posted by NWB

I agreee completely and wholeheartedly.

Unfortunately, under current economic conditions, education is being deeply cut (50% for universities!) in my state of Washington.

When the time comes, my son may very well go to Canada for his post-secondary education.

We're pretty fortunate here in Massachusetts. The state has a scholarship called the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship (named for the 2nd President and his wife). You can qualify by scoring a "proficient" in the MCAS test, which is the state test for students here in MA. The scholarship allows a student to attend a state institution of higher learning tuition-free. My daughter got her Art History degree from Framingham State University without paying a cent of tuition! My son, on the other hand, opted to get his Biochemistry degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute; he's currently in debt up to his eyeballs even with the partial scholarship he got!

Sometimes living in a "left-wing socialist" state does have its advantages!