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If the question suggests that the government give more grants to military brats than civilian students than the answer is a clear no.

Veterans get a host of benefits, and so do their children. For example, free medical and dental. It would not be unreasonable for someone to conclude that because military brats get such benefits when young then they should also get tuition discounts.

But this conclusion is flawed. Mainly for this reason: A benefit given to a child should not necessarily extend to an adult. When high school seniors graduate, they are most likely eighteen. By law, they are considered adults at this point, and are allowed to make decisions about the direction of their life than a child. They now have choices. They can a) go to college b) go to work c)start a business or d) join the military. Eighteen year olds have a greater "potential" than a child to pay for college. Even if they don't have the money, there are avenues for the eighteen year old to get the money. Join the military perhaps? Maybe not. But when one reaches eighteen, the government does not have any more obligation to the direction of an individual's life. At this point, the government can decide to give benefits to any adult who will benefit them. A veteran is a benefit to the government, therefore, a benefit to a veteran by the government is reasonable. But being an eighteen year old or an adult "legacy" of a veteran does not benefit the government.

Plus this will create a slippery slope. There are other government workers who could also argue that their children deserve tuition discounts, such as teachers, police officers, state troopers, congressmen and others.

This type of discount should not be sanctioned by the government. However, if a college chooses to give military brats a discount like they do athletes, musicians, or smart students in the form of scholarships then that is their prerogative.

Learn more about this author, Mark Dawson.
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