I agree with you, Philip. I, too, have seen what privilege does to kids whose parents didn't instill in them a work ethic and an appreciation for what they have. So parents who failed on that account can't overcome that by giving their kids everything for free. Yet I also know plenty of people (like my husband and me) who DID have conscientious parents who emphasized hard work, concrete goals, and gratitude. They also helped us financially so we could start off our married life without over $400,000 in debt from multiple degrees.

One thing I'd emphasize to the original author is that many universities expect a "Parental contribution" if you claim your kids as dependents on your tax return. If you refuse to provide any funding, I'm not sure your kids can get federal loans to cover that expected parental contribution. So you might look into that before you decide unilaterally to refuse to support your kids' higher education goals.

The reality is that tuition and living expenses now far outstrip what a 20 hour/week job pays . You said you worked 3 jobs in college--you expect your kids to work long hours and also go to class and do homework? That sounds brutal to me and unlikely to set them up for academic success.