Quote:
Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate
Oh goodie. Another Quebec-bashing thread on Calgarypuck.
Personally, I say good for them. I think more students should be standing up for more affordable education. I remember protesting with my student union for lower tuition and my professor at the time got a kick out of our protests. "You aren't going to get anywhere unless you are more militant in your demands. A nice quiet 'Please don't make education less accessible please Mr. Politician.' is useless'.
Yes, Quebec already has the lowest tuition across the country. But not because their's is too low, but because everywhere else is way too high.
High tuition prices have an incredibly harsh effect on the country:
http://www.cfs-fcee.ca/studentdebt/index.html
These students are not looking to live off the trough as "entitled brats". They are looking to get an education so they can get a good job.
As much as CC poo-poos this as "$70 a year", it's a 3% increase each year for the next 5 years. Most students won't be making 3% more each year for the next 5 years working at Provigo or whatever part time job they can get between classes. Which means more loans. And I think the concern of the student strikers is that if they speak out now and stop the increases, there is nothing to stop the situation there to be as bad as it is elsewhere in Canada.
I know many parents that are PRAYING that their child is able to get some kind of scholarship because they know they cannot afford tuition costs here in Ontario. The only option then is starting your working career with a massive student debt.
I don't know if you remember my friend Evan who pied Chretien. He most certainly regrets that stunt.... not because of going to jail for the incident but because nobody knows that the reason he did it was because it was a protest against the high cost of education. I may not agree with his methods, but I do agree with his stance.
Additional link:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/hi...dentloans.html
My belief is that everyone should be given an equal chance in life. And if the rich can afford the best schools, while the poor have the choice of not being educated or racking in massive debt on the lottery ticket of getting a good job, then the system is broken. I say good on the Quebec students for standing up whereas the students around the rest of the country meekly get walked all over. |
If you can't afford school in Canada it is not because you are poor...it is because you are unwilling to work to afford the school and want it handed to you.
I only graduated two years ago from the UofC but paid for my entire tuition loan free by working part time during the school year and full time during the summer. I worked my tail off landscaping in the summer but it was more then worth it to get that education without needing handouts.
I didn't expect further handouts from the government, or any help from my parents outside of a place to live. I knew that I needed to work hard for my education.
Post secondary schooling is likely among the cheapest in the world in Quebec already, and they feel it is justified to riot over a small increase.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/interactives/tuition-canada/
Good riddance and they deserve that treatment from the police.