- This topic has 7 voices and 11 replies.
-
Posts
-
This guy has an interesting take on it. You can watch the video and it's pretty informative.http://finance.yahoo.com/tech-ticker/james-altucher%27s-8-alternatives-to-college-535903.html?tickers=COCO,APOL,ESI,DV,EDMC,STRA,%5eDJI
I wonder why more people don't go to trade school. It seems like society pushes people to college even if that is not a good fit for them. There are also jobs out there where the money is good and no college is needed such as plumber, machinist, or electrician. I definitely think that college is not for everyone and at the same time think there is probably a decent profession available for everyone whether they go to college or not.
It all goes back to the one-size-fits-all mentality getting confused with giving people choices… coupled with a confused need to “show the world” we have the best education system in the world, we are missing the point.Other countries are very selective about advancement in their educational systems and have alternate pathways readily available for those that aren't academically strong enough (or so inclined) to continue at any given point... trade and tech training are something we seem to be missing.The major point I'm hinting at is that in our zeal to provide everyone a quality education we don't... failing to understand that it isn't college for all. We score poorly in tests (against the rest of the world) because we test everyone... they test only those headed for higher education. The little French detective would say, "A clue!" Our I/C's in education need to get one.
In addition to attracting academically-weak students, the guy in the video had a good point: socialization has become an overly-important focus of college life. It's basically a right-of-passage in the modern world. Add to this the fact that we have different special socio-political interests pushing their way into administrations and academic departments, and we can question how much learning of what is important is really going on.
I don't have a link at the moment, but I read a study from the Gates Foundation that basically admits that a bachelor's degree today is today – as far as job qualifications go – the high school diploma of 50 years ago. Basically meaning that the high school diploma is basically “given” and that for most jobs, a bachelor's is required. Using my historian's skeptical view of things ( ;D) I have to wonder, since the latest census reported that only about 28% of adults in the U.S. over the age of 25 possess a bachelor's degree (or above). I mean, I know that unemployment is bad, but it isn't THAT bad.
You are talking equality of result versus equality of opportunity?
I'm a believer in equality of opportunity... what we were founded on. Getting equality of results won't happen as long as we try to put all students into the same programs. As a student demonstrates that they are good at math, sure, encourage math and science; however, if the kid is failing math but draws very well... then let's think art not giving them a couple of extra hours of math to prep them for "the test" that they will likely blow off anyway.As a teacher I had much more success "coaching kids" at things they had an aptitude and liking for than "teaching kids" things just didn't give a crap about or felt no personal stake in.
I wonder why more people don't go to trade school. It seems like society pushes people to college even if that is not a good fit for them. There are also jobs out there where the money is good and no college is needed such as plumber, machinist, or electrician. I definitely think that college is not for everyone and at the same time think there is probably a decent profession available for everyone whether they go to college or not.
I'm starting to come to the same conclusion myself. Some of the wealthiest people I know are retired truck drivers. That profession can pay some money if you are fortunate enough to get in with the right company.
I'm a believer in equality of opportunity… what we were founded on. Getting equality of results won't happen as long as we try to put all students into the same programs. As a student demonstrates that they are good at math, sure, encourage math and science; however, if the kid is failing math but draws very well… then let's think art not giving them a couple of extra hours of math to prep them for “the test” that they will likely blow off anyway.As a teacher I had much more success "coaching kids" at things they had an aptitude and liking for than "teaching kids" things just didn't give a crap about or felt no personal stake in.
Isn't this how the whole "magnet school" thing got off the ground?I suppose there is some truth to this. I wasn't big on math in high school (aside, perhaps, from geometry), and in all my years since there are only a few basic mathematical formulas that I use for practical purposes. I think there is a case to be made that all students should learn math that helps them in practical situations, but perhaps not more advanced concepts within algebra, trigonometry, etc.
The problem is in America the school system is trying to fit all the different shaped pegs into the square whole and only just now figuring out that it does not really work well that way.
Isn't this how the whole "magnet school" thing got off the ground?
To some degree, however, the concept doesn't fly well in small rural counties (and we still have many of those nationwide) since there aren't enough kids to split them out by areas of talent or interest. Need to be comprihensive... something for all not pick an option. I taught in such a district and, when flavor of the month became AP classes, anything tech or vocational suffered.
I suppose there is some truth to this. I wasn't big on math in high school (aside, perhaps, from geometry), and in all my years since there are only a few basic mathematical formulas that I use for practical purposes. I think there is a case to be made that all students should learn math that helps them in practical situations, but perhaps not more advanced concepts within algebra, trigonometry, etc.
You learn lots of math in woodshop or machine shop... just not formulas that have a red box around an "X" value at the end but a correctly proportioned bookcase or a bearning race that fits. Practical application is something we seem to be short on; we come up with a concept and hand it off to a tech to flesh-out and then ship it to the third world to produce (while we have folks just as capable as the thrid world sweat-shop types... but maybe not as hungry... no welfare in the third world). What's wrong with this picture?
I might have been better off going to a community college because I entered U.C. Berkeley as a 17 year old in 1949. The situation was unusual both academically and socially. I had to compete in classes against hordes of WWII and post war vets and the maturity of 20+ real men in the struggle to attract coeds, nearly all of whom were going for their MRS degree in those days. The typical sorority might pledge 25-30 freshmen and as few as five might graduate.
I wonder why more people don't go to trade school. It seems like society pushes people to college even if that is not a good fit for them. There are also jobs out there where the money is good and no college is needed such as plumber, machinist, or electrician. I definitely think that college is not for everyone and at the same time think there is probably a decent profession available for everyone whether they go to college or not.
It is about the $$$. We are taught from early on we must go to uni to be all we can be. It has become the norm and although we do not come out of uni able to cure cancer, we at least us owe a lot of money and have no choice but to go work for the man and make him some $$$ in order to pay off our debts. A kind of modern servitude.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
