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A father of eight explains why he hasn’t saved a penny for his kids’ college education
Washington Post ^ | 10/28/2014 | By Jonnelle Marte

Posted on 10/29/2014 12:06:04 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd

David T. Fagan has eight kids and his oldest daughter is a senior in high school–and he hasn’t saved a penny for his children’s college education. But Fagan isn’t stressing. In fact, Fagan says he would prefer it if his children didn’t go to college at all.

Fagan and his wife lay out their parenting philosophy in new book Guerrilla Parenting, scheduled to be released in January, and say they encourage their children to strike out on their own and create businesses from the time they’re in elementary school. If the children are set on going to college — and their oldest is– Fagan says he expects his children to work, save up and earn scholarships. Or at the very least, they need to make a good case for how they’re going to use the degree to land a job and avoid ending up back on his couch.

Fagan, a marketing executive who lives in Orange County, Calif. with his wife, kids and two dogs, recently spoke with The Washington Post about the pros and cons of a college education and how he and his wife start teaching their children about money from the moment they start walking.

Tell me about your family.

I’m the oldest of six kids and I grew up in a home where if I wanted anything my parents told me hey you have to go work for it. I actually left high school in 11th grade. Later on I did do a little bit of college, but never graduated. That carried over to when I had kids. You know, wanting them to have a customized education. Not so much about college and degrees. I think there’s a lot of wasted time there.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Education
KEYWORDS: education; parenting
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I LIKE this guy.
1 posted on 10/29/2014 12:06:04 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
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To: Responsibility2nd

The world needs ditch diggers too...

College is not for everyone especially if you are getting a wimins studies degree and borrowed $100K to get it.


2 posted on 10/29/2014 12:09:24 PM PDT by Resolute Conservative
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To: Responsibility2nd

With eight kids, you aren’t going to save a lot unless you’re outrageously successful. It’s smarter to encourage independence and if that doesn’t work, plead poverty so your kids can get college at the wholesale price.

I was fairly fortunate in business and paid full boat for three kids. Eight? Couldn’t imagine it.


3 posted on 10/29/2014 12:12:03 PM PDT by Pearls Before Swine
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To: Responsibility2nd

Physicians may need to go to college...so very many of the “young people” who dont take that route...do not.

One size does not fit all.

This guys got his head on!


4 posted on 10/29/2014 12:13:45 PM PDT by MeshugeMikey ("Never, Never, Never, Give Up," Winston Churchill)
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To: Responsibility2nd
Apart from physicians,rocket scientists,engineers and a few other occupations there aren't many people who truly *need* a college degree.
5 posted on 10/29/2014 12:17:49 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Islamophobia;The Irrational Fear Of Being Beheaded)
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To: Responsibility2nd; xsmommy; tioga; secret garden; Tax-chick; Monkey Face; WhyisaTexasgirlinPA; ...

No big deal.

Our family did the same thing: If you want to go to college, you find a way to pay for college.

My older brother worked stores (grocery and retail) and got a Physics scholarship.
I competed in academic and math and science competitions in high school, and won two 1 year scholarships and a NROTC 4-year scholarship. (Wasn’t good/fast enough to get any athletic scholarships! Had to compete in math/science/SAT’s.)
My younger brother went to work, got his degrees later.
My other brother earned a Air Force ROTC 4 year scholership.
My youngest brother earned a USNA appointment.
My sisters earned their by working, by going to their schools part-time.


6 posted on 10/29/2014 12:18:29 PM PDT by Robert A Cook PE (I can only donate monthly, but socialists' ABBCNNBCBS continue to lie every day!)
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To: Responsibility2nd

no explanation needed, this is how it should be


7 posted on 10/29/2014 12:18:53 PM PDT by bigbob (The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly. Abraham Lincoln)
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To: Resolute Conservative

Absolutely.

I could never imagine sending my kids to a place where they teach Global Warming is going to kill us all by 2030 and that its OK to consider post-birth abortions.


8 posted on 10/29/2014 12:20:40 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd (NO LIBS. This Means Liberals and (L)libertarians! Same Thing. NO LIBS!!)
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To: Responsibility2nd

“Fagan, a marketing executive...”

...executive. The kids will be JUST FINE and he WILL do what is needed for them, since he has the resources.

But I do agree...nice way to get one’s 15 minutes of fame.


9 posted on 10/29/2014 12:21:59 PM PDT by BobL (Don't forget - Today's Russians learn math WITHOUT calculators.)
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To: Gay State Conservative

these days it seems most colleges make students dumber (liberal arts)


10 posted on 10/29/2014 12:22:04 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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To: Resolute Conservative

My kid started a mowing company at age 14. Had a full blown landscaping company by 17. Now at 19 he hired a few guys to run the business and he is taking Russian/Computer Science at a local University with a 4.0. He continues to run his business, but only regarding leadership issues. Homeschool works!


11 posted on 10/29/2014 12:23:37 PM PDT by Jan_Sobieski (Sanctification)
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To: Jan_Sobieski

sounds like a future leader


12 posted on 10/29/2014 12:25:07 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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To: Responsibility2nd

government backed loans not dischargeable by bankruptcy should not exist for a liberal arts degree, anywhere.

Schools REALLY think sociology is really for character development?

well let them ACT that way.


13 posted on 10/29/2014 12:28:10 PM PDT by gaijin
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To: Jan_Sobieski

Russian CS is different from ours?


14 posted on 10/29/2014 12:29:17 PM PDT by RitchieAprile
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To: Responsibility2nd

If he’s not careful, he’s gonna end up with a bunch of Ben Franklins and Tom Edisons in his family.


15 posted on 10/29/2014 12:29:31 PM PDT by LearsFool ("Thou shouldst not have been old, till thou hadst been wise.")
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To: Responsibility2nd
I agree. I actually tried to talk my daughter out of college entirely, offering to support her while she educated herself (she was homeschooled, so we could just continue that, auditing college classes, etc.). No dice. I did talk my son into going to a trade school.

In general, if you aren't majoring in engineering, architecture, one of the hard sciences, etc., college is an overpriced scam.

16 posted on 10/29/2014 12:30:27 PM PDT by backwoods-engineer (Blog: www.BackwoodsEngineer.com)
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To: Robert A. Cook, PE

I’m the youngest of seven. I joined the military out of high school and got my associate’s while in. Before getting out I transferred one year of my educational benefits to three of my children (the other two were too old). That leaves me with one year of free college. I thought about going to school again but don’t know if I could stomach the liberalism on campus. I know I’d give the lib professors a hell of a time.


17 posted on 10/29/2014 12:34:42 PM PDT by rfreedom4u (Do you know who Barry Soetoro is?)
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FR Needs Donors To Survive

Please Donate!

18 posted on 10/29/2014 12:36:09 PM PDT by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
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To: LearsFool

great sitcom idea:

Dad and his 8 super-successful, genius children with at least one always trying to be the “favorite child”.

“I made a billion dollars honestly, don’t tell me Drake is your favorite. Sure he cured cancer and then he gave the patent to the world, so I have to feed him. It can’t be Nathan, I mean he is on Mars right now for crying out loud...”


19 posted on 10/29/2014 12:39:34 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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To: Responsibility2nd

Yes, I like him too.

But without college attendance, how will the Marxists indoctrinate his children properly? He needs to consider that.


20 posted on 10/29/2014 12:43:41 PM PDT by Resettozero
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