I recently heard a piece on NPR about the increasing number of young people who are unable to get college loans and may not be able to attend college. I could not help but question whether, considering the power of the Web, the typical college experience must be an expensive in-person venture. Many reputable, Web-based college programs, already exist, but on-campus education is still the norm. Are colleges (which, for the most part, are private businesses) conspiring to keep it this way?

State universities should continue to improve and encourage inexpensive online learning. Perhaps libraries could become local facilities for e-learning and for learning how to use the web, so that people can do it at home.

I really agree that people need to be educated. I was a history major as an undergraduate (which explains why I am able to put the history of modern education into some context.)

The need to educate people has not diminished, but the place where it happens probably needs to change. We need a place to learn culture. We need a place to learn about the value of civilization.

I think the library could be that place. I plan on expanding on that more in future posts on the P’unk Ave Window.

So glad this is hitting a chord with you. I think we can make some real changes here.