DEAR HARRIETTE: My husband does not believe that our children need to go to college. He didn’t, and he has a good job, so he figures they can do the same -- work in a trade. I didn’t grow up like that. I was taught that college was a requirement.
While I understand the value of vocational work, I do not want to limit my children’s options. My husband is adamant that he doesn’t want to pay for the kids to go to college. I can’t believe I didn’t understand his position on this before we got married. I made assumptions that turned out to be false. How can I support my children when my husband is standing in the way? -- No College, Washington, D.C.
DEAR NO COLLEGE: Start with a heart-to-heart with your husband. Admit that you believed that the two of you were on the same page about education and that you are shocked to learn that he is opposed to college for the children. Ask him to soften his position to at least allow you to encourage the children to do their research as they think about what they want to do with their lives. If their ideas are best served with the support of a college education, ask your husband not to stand in the way. They can look for scholarships and loans to pay for the schooling.
If your children are interested in a vocation, ask your husband to help them pick the best vocational school to get them prepared. Make it clear to your husband that you believe that in today’s world, a college education is considered baseline for most industries, and you do not want to hinder your children’s success in any way.