Comments on: They want a college education — but barriers hold them back

By: Maidenamerica

Maidenamerica — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:48:04 +0000

I want to live in a McMansion, but there are “barriers”. A college education begins with free public education from pre-k through 12th grade that enables everyone in this country to prepare for college by studying hard, getting good grades, and applying for scholarships. For those without funding, community colleges are affordable, great values. Students can work full time, live at home, take a couple of courses at a time, and save for the last two years of a 4yr. program like I did. When did we start expecting Mama Government to provide EVERYTHING for us?

By: joshsmart

joshsmart — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:39:25 +0000

Parents need to share the most responsibility for their children’s education, not the government or the society. Hispanic Parents’ not willing to go into debts for their children’s education is no excuse for seeking help. Look at Asian parents, many Asian parents are more than willing to borrow against their houses for their children’s education, that is why Asian Americans have the highest college attending rates.

By: Trina

Trina — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:20:23 +0000

I agree with the comment about Upward Bound. In fact, all of the TRiO programs would be successful in this endeavor including Talent Search, Student Support Services, and Veterans Upward Bound. In addition — colleges and universities need to make better efforts to market to this and other underrepresented populations. There are a number of “summer bridge” programs that can be put in place on a campus and state-wide level. It takes a desire of the institution to want to attract these students in addition to creating programs that prepare the students to come to the university, to stay, and to graduate.

By: Rosemary Sarri

Rosemary Sarri — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:58:04 +0000

I think that you might look at the federal program “Upward Bound” during the Poverty Program in the 1960s. I think that it was quite successful in getting very poor Hispanics, espectially Chicanos into college programs. As a faculty member at the University of Michigan we recruited quite a number and many of them are now in very prominent positions in social agencies, labor unions, etc. in the community.