Not Everyone Should Go to College
Kathryn Craig, Educational Leader (K-12)
"I don't think everyone should go to college," I would inform my 11th grade English/Language Arts students. I would hear the talking and see the shocked looks on their faces.
"Hear me out. I do think that everyone SHOULD continue their education. Think about it. Do you need a bachelor's degree to get a job as a hairstylist? What about to become a pastry chef or police officer or firefighter or realtor? No, you can go to the local trade school or take a few courses at the local community college to enter into those professions. What about the military as a form of education? I want you to get the right amount of education for the profession you are interested in, since only a little more than half of all college students actually graduate college ( http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-24/the-college-dropout-problem-may-not-be-as-bad-as-the-government-says ). In the next few weeks, you're going to explore your career field options and the education required for it for your upcoming project."
Throughout the hallways of various Title I schools, the push for a 4-year college is all that can be heard. Unfortunately, students are many times not shown other options for their future, causing many to dropout of college with no degree and an abundance of debt. Over 75% of all US college graduates are left with approximately a $30,000 loan burden to contend with ( http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/11/13/average-student-loan-debt-hits-30-000 ), and the struggle of finding a job in their chosen career field. Also for many, once they are in college or graduate, they realize that their degree is not in the field that they have a passion for. " Don't ask me what I want to be, until you show me what there is to be!" By dedicating a few weeks for students to explore the various career fields and educational requirements while in high school, it will allow them to be better prepared so they do not become a dropout, be burdened with a significant loan debt, or have to take a position for which they are overqualified for.
Now, that doesn't mean that a traditional 4-year college should be ruled out, but we need to allow students to understand and explore whichoptions are available to continue theireducation. Below are some ways various ways to allow students to explore their options:
*Invite local representatives from trade schools, community colleges, 4-year colleges, and military recruiters to come speak to students about what they have to offer. So many of our students do not have the resources to visit, so why not bring the higher education opportunities to them. From experience, most organizations are willing to send a representative all day to speak with the students during class time.
*Allow students to select 3 career fields they are interested in, and allow them to complete a research project to present to the class. During this project, students not only practice research and writing skills, but also begin looking at options for their future. It also allows students to learn not only about their 3 career fields, but other's as well!
*Create a "higher-education" summer tour, where students can pay a small transportation fee to visit local trade schools, colleges, etc. Unfortunately, so many students lack resources to visit these various institutions, but many timesresources are available to assist with the cost. By visiting the various higher education institutions, it will allow students to better determine if it is a "good fit."
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College is not for everyone.
Good paying jobs in the skilled trades do not require college educations!
A wise man advised
Twain was an expert at river education :
Petey
Getting closer to the point of an article every time
Keep trying and thanks for stopping by
Particularly government schooling. (it actually might set you back)
I constantly remind people that one of the most intelligent wisest men the planet has ever seen only had a 9th grade education.
Abraham Lincoln.
I thought I learned a lot in the Gifted Slow track.
Gosh, we used to do career stuff, all the time, when I taught.
I knew I wanted to be a geologist in the 8th grade. My friend Mary, who plays French horn for the Baltimore Symphony were the only two who knew what we wanted to do, and did it. Note: back then, no one knew what geology was all about, and it was 98% male. Today, strangely enough, no one knows what geology is all about, and it is 98% male. Hmmmmmm.
My son wants to be an archaeologist. I hope, if he has a passion for it, that he can.
So he wants to follow in the footsteps of Professor Sydney Fox ? More power to him ...
I know I'm dumb, ok? I mean, for old time's sake, let's not belabor the point-- but, who is Professor Sydney Fox?
I believe he's thinking more along the lines of Indiana Jones!
She was the lead character in a 90's TV series called "The Relic Hunter" ... played by Tia Carrera
Oh wow!!! I can see why my son would want to enter that field!
Is she Rachel Welsh's daughter? She surely is pretty!
I prefer to think of her as a "fox" ... (; ~ P
She surely is!
N M
A ninth grade education should not be a goal for anyone in these times but your example demonstrates the value of combining book learning with common, practical experience and life learning
A Mac
I am not sure exactly what you mean, but am glad it worked out for you
Dowser
The best teachers have always done this for their students, we need to get this type of activity and counseling as a standard practice in ou schools.
Petey
You continue to approach the point, keep trying you'll get there
Many careers pay well, some requiring degrees and some not, the ley is getting a young person to focus on and pursue that which they want to do with their lives and to get the appropriate education and training for that choice.
RIO,
I was just being silly.
Pay me no mind when I get that way.
A Mac
Nonsense getting that way is perfectly fine as it steers the conversation toward the light hearted and civil exchange of information rather than hammering each other over petty issues
Always welcome on my articles
Some seem to miss the point of the article.
Whilethe path to a successful careerfor all people is not the same and that while the path to a successful career for many will involve a two-year or four-year degree at a college or university, for others it may be post secondary education in a technical school and/or a career in the skilled trades.
Bottom line college may not be for everyone, though everyone who wants to go to college should be afforded the opportunity
I agree with you wholeheartedly!
Back when I was in high school, I was told by my guidance counselor to not bother to go to college as I'd never graduate. Nice. I graduated in 4 years with a "double major" of geology/earth science, minor in sociology, and a teaching certificate. Later, I took a master's level class with this same guidance counselor. She would nod to me in a distant way...
I agree that not everyone should go to college, but if the field you've chosen needs a degree, you have to get one. Even then, I think that about 1/2 of those going to trade schools, or whatever, need at least another year in English, in order to be able to write a business letter, or whatever. Using poor grammar on a daily basis is a real detriment to someone's ability to better themselves in the long run. The ones that bother me the most is "I seen", and "He don't". Those drive me nuts! We're not in a country music song, we're in real life!
And yes, I make grammatical errors all the time. And I've forgotten a lot of the grammar I learned all those years ago. It's been a long time since I studied all that. But the ability to communicate is written and spoken form is a must.
I don't really think it's saying that-- I mean, I've known wildly successful plumbers, etc. My first year of teaching, (in 1978), I made $9,500 per year, and most of the plumbers I knew were making at least $30,000, right out of plumbing school. There are all kinds of things you can do that don't require a college degree, and still make a decent living.
My husband, for example. He should have gone to college, (he was smart enough to do so!), but at the time, he could make more money working on cars than most college graduates, so he didn't go. Now, I think he regrets not having a college degree, but he still makes good money, and is in line for a promotion...
There is whole lot more to it than just fixing dents. There is metallurgy, electronics, computers, etc., within their factory specified tolerances that are all, to me, unbelievable. Did you know the bumpers of a BMW have sensors? The sensor is attached to the bumper. It doesn't have a plug, where you can just put in a new sensor and plug it into the computer. Nope, to fix a bumper, you have to install a whole new wiring harness. EGAD. Most wrecks involve hitting the bumper, so BMWs go through wiring harnesses about like a little kid goes through bandaids...
I can only agree with you on that, too. The cost of a college education has risen through the roof! In comparison, my college tuition my senior year was $257. My room and board, in a dorm, was about $250, and a 3 meal a day meal ticket was also $250. Shoot, that doesn't even pay for the books, these days...
Dowser
You are exactly correct.
Jobs in the skilled trades and other professions that do not require college degrees are often the best fit for some students' desires and talents - it has nothing to do with elitism but rather helping the student figure out what is best for them training, education and career wise
I can agree with both of you, surprisingly enough.
Flame, the costs of college tuition, and the cutting of funds to help college kids, plus the high costs of student loans, has pretty much knocked out many deserving students-- smart kids that would benefit. It does add a great deal of earning potential, making sure that those who have the money to go, can earn a good income afterwards. That is, IF they find a job.
I look at the members of my son's band-- a good cross-section of the school-- albeit a slightly skewed cross-section, (the druggies aren't in there). Where will they all end up? I wish the best for them. Shoot, the GI Bill doesn't give the soldiers enough to make it through school... Not any more, anyway.
And RIO, it should be about the best fit for every kid. Saying that, will I be happy if my son decides to be a plumber or an electrician? Or a body shop guy? My happiness doesn't matter-- his does. Yet, I would like him to go to college, in the fact that he would have a well-rounded education.
I feel like the classes I took prepared me for a lot of things-- the reports I had to write, the basic knowledge of geology. I also studied history, philosophy, music, creative writing, etc. All good things to know, for your whole life. Could I have gotten that education in a trade school, if someone came up with the idea of a geology trade school? Not all of it, but I bet I would have known more what to do with a map, when I got out of college, instead of having no idea...
I see advantages and disadvantages to both.
What confused thought processes ... everything is a conspiracy of the wealthy to you . Don't look under your bed . There is an EVIL rich person hiding under there trying to get you !