In a message dated 7/21/01 5:57:20 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
writes:
<<
So private education in the US is actually regulated. That was not clear to
me.
Private eduction in the Netherlands can mean that the education is actually
not
regulated at all by the government or anybody else. Therefor diplomas can be
entirely fictive and worth nothing. It is however possible for a private
institution to get its diplomas recognised by the government. In order for
that
to happen a certain standard of eduction has to be met. Who the regulatory
body
advising the government is, depends on the profession.
I am not sure about regulation when it comes to colleges. At lower levels
(high school) and upper levels (professional schools) the schools must be
acredited and the students are individually tested. The diplomas I believe
have no official standing.
One thing that is different however is that since the Netherlands is a very
small
country, and eduction is intended to be accesible to everybody, for most
professions, education is largely not a profitable business.
It is not profitable in the US either. Private schools are not profit making
organizations for the most part (there has been some privitization of school
education by for profit organizations but these have yet to prove themselves
profitable). The privabe schools at all levels were in the past associated
with religous organizations or were started by rich folk who wanted their
names on Universities (Duke). But these organizations are not money makers.
They invariably lose money and rely on constant infusions of cash from
benefactors to continue to exist (even the toilets have brass name plates in
some places). I am on the Faculty of Cornell Medical Center. Now Cornell was
a guy who gave money (or land) to start the University. About 4 years ago,
Sandy 'Weill, a big financial guy poneyed up 100,000,00 for the med school so
now I work at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University.
On the other hand, lately universities are starting cautious ventures into
the
open market as well (that, considering the cost, mostly are only accessible
to
the wealthy or to busines people). Mostly those educations are for 'desk'
profession.
Is it true that the US eduction system for a higher (e.g. university)
education
is expensive and thereby not open to all?
It is variable cost. There are public colleges and universities that are
free to residents of the city or state. Most state colleges cost about 15k
per year while private schools are twice that (or more). But most people who
want to go can go because of student loans or scholarships. The prestige
places are well endowed and therefore give lots of scholarships. I
How does the level of cost and education of public schools compare to that of
private schools? And more over, do you have a real chance in the ever
increasing
competition for jobs if you have gone through public schooling?
Private colleges are more expensive for sure but many of the strongest
academic institutions are public. State universities are huge and therefore
have enormous amounts (in absolute dollars) of money to spend. The
professional staffs are often world class. What you don't get is personal
attention (e.g small seminars with Al Gore) from the professors.
I am the product of a public education up to the point of medical school. I
think that as one procedes in life where you went to school becomes less
important. If you are good at something and interested in it you will
advance. In my current position, I deal with people who have much more
impressive academic records than me (high school valedictorian, top of their
class at Harvard). You know what ? I am still their boss. And they know that
I am good at what I do and deserve to be where I am.
Just asking this, since I haven't got a clue. :o)
Sonja
>>
