Law Would Require Students To Apply To College

**Bananas** · 05-01-2007, 11:06 AM

Hmmmmmm. What do you think about legislating that students
fill out application to college? There appears to be a
growing trend toward this thought.

My district included wording in its strategic plan
brochure in that all students would be prepared for
college.

This bothers me on a couple of levels. First, it seems
that government gets more involved in our lives as the
years go by. Not only will no one be left behind; now all
will go to college?

Also, this tells our children that college is the way to
go. Aspirations are wonderful and setting the goals to
achieve those are worthy. There are a lot of students who
are on the border about no postsecondary school,
vocational training, junior college, or a university. Some
aren't sure what to do with themselves. It is great to let
them know what their options are, but pushing college as
the ticket seems to leave a bad taste.

It is not that college is a bad option achievement, only
that college may not be for everyone. Some people desire
to work a trade in which they learn on the job, or learn
through a vocational school. There is nothing wrong with
this if the person is self-supporting and happy. Some may
find that making a decision for further education later in
life is a choice made with maturity as they know the
direction they must take.

Some of my kids will make a great contribution working
with their hands in a vocation we need in our lives. I
just think it would be better to highlight their options
to support their interests.

$20 won't pay for an application fee. For those who do not
want to go to college and money is tight, it is a waste.
Having the money for those who would like to go to college
is helpful, but making it a requirement is another hoop to
jump through.

[url]http://www.thebostonchannel.com/education/13215647/detail.html[/url]

**Ima Teacher** · 05-01-2007, 01:18 PM

That's just silly on many levels.

It is about like our state mandated "all children will be proficient in all areas by 2014". Sure they will. :roll: I could go on about that, but I left my soapbox at home today. :wink:

My husband is a perfect example of "not college material". He hated school and struggled through it. Honestly, he probably has a learning disability and needed special education services. Instead, his parents pulled him from public school and enrolled him in a tiny private school where he got almost one-on-one attention. That's the ONLY reason he got through school. On the other hand, he's a gifted musician. He reads music and plays by ear. If it's got strings, he can play it. He was playing professionally at age 15. He didn't need college for what he does. He admits that he might like college NOW . . . but then he says that he just wants the classes he WANTS to take without all that other stuff . . . and I explain that it doesn't work that way. His family and friends are amazed he married a teacher because he hates school that much.

I'm on the opposite side. I never thought about whether I was going to college, I just knew I would. I loved school. Heck, if the grad school classes weren't so expensive, I'd probably just keep taking classes and taking classes just because I like them. I didn't actually intend to be a teacher, but I fell into it . . . and I get to be at school every day!

One of my best friends was certainly smart enough to attend college, but she didn't want to do it. She's doing well. Another tried college, but didn't have any idea what she wanted to do. She eventually decided to quit, work, get married, and raise her two children. During that time she decided what she wanted to do. THEN she went to college and got a degree.

We have a LOT of students who need vocational training, but not college. We have some kids who can really work . . . but not sitting behind a desk types of work. When we moved to our new building, we had no landscaping. We got the materials through a grant, and the KIDS volunteered to do the work. The ones who did the best work were the ones who didn't perform well in the classroom, but they did an amazing job on the building. Need college? Nope. A vocational program would have been more to their liking.

**Mrs.D** · 05-01-2007, 02:23 PM

I agree 100%. As a remedial reading teacher, I have students who are just marking time in high school, and I can't help but think that many of my students would do better - and be happier - if they could drop the college prep courses that high school requires and just focus on vocational training. Making college prep mandatory in high school is one thing, though; making college mandatory is a bad idea.

**Tom (Houston)** · 05-01-2007, 03:09 PM

The world needs Doctors, Lawyers and Indian Chiefs.....

It also needs Butchers, Bakers and Candlestick Makers...

.

**Bananas** · 05-01-2007, 03:18 PM

Ima,

You are so good at speaking my thoughts.

We, as parents, planned on both of our children going to college. This was probably done while they were toddlers. They were certainly intelligent enough, and it shapes some coursework taken in junior and senior high. It instills in them the value of education and the possibilities of which they are capable of. It takes some foresight in saving up for some college tuition. Son was magnanimous while we were talking over financial concerns and volunteered saving us the expense by not going to college. :lol:

However, and this is a huge however, it has been our daughter and son's decision to attend college. If it came right down to it where one had firm goals and dreams of a vocation, and wanted to attend a trade school for the training, we would be behind them. It would take an adjustment on my part in my mind, but I would not want to force something important on my child when it comes time for him/her to life their own life. They have gone to college because that has ended up being the means of what they want to do.

**JohnBoy** · 05-01-2007, 10:29 PM

I think this is a terrible idea. At our school, we offer two diplomas: the "college prep" and the "college tech-prep". We persist in deluding ourselves that all of our students are capable of going to college, and we by doing so actively are deluding them, too. And, apparently in my state, that is an overall trend. This year's 7th graders are going to be required to have taken two foreign language classes in high school, and everyone is already required to have taken Algebra I. I wish this trend would stop, and we would instead provide the education that the student could actually use. Not everyone is fit to get a 4-year degree. Speaking as someone who does teach postsecondary from time to time, the only way that everyone goes to college is that we make it as dumbed down as high school is now and therefore, worthless. We have in education sacrificed excellence on the altar of egalitarianism a great deal already. We should not do so any further.

*steps down from soap-box*

**Mrs.D** · 05-01-2007, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by JohnBoy

Not everyone is fit to get a 4-year degree. Speaking as someone who does teach postsecondary from time to time, the only way that everyone goes to college is that we make it as dumbed down as high school is now and therefore, worthless. We have in education sacrificed excellence on the altar of egalitarianism a great deal already. We should not do so any further.

*steps down from soap-box*

Yes! Where is the applause smiley?

**David Chin** · 05-02-2007, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by Bananas

Hmmmmmm. What do you think about legislating that students
fill out application to college? There appears to be a
growing trend toward this thought.

[url]http://www.thebostonchannel.com/education/13215647/detail.html[/url]

Does everyone really NEED to go to college? There are certainly many occupations that don't require a traditional four year program: construction, auto mechanics, plumbing, electrician, culinary arts, landscaping etc. to name a few.

**billybob** · 05-02-2007, 01:52 PM

this is one of the places where our system is broke. It's the source of our "one size fits all" mentality that is driving all this accountability (translated testing) mania.

Not everyone needs to go to college. Not everyone can. Not everyone should.

Where would our society be without mechanics, waitresses, cashiers, copy clerks???? I know I cannot fix my own car!!!

We have such a narrow view of what consitututes "education" anymore.

**Bananas** · 05-02-2007, 02:29 PM

This sequence just seems to be all wrong. I fill out applications because I am interested in an accomplishment. I am working toward a goal. I want to began a part of a process.

I do not set up an account at a veterinary if I had no pets. Not needed. I know this is a poor comparison, but applications are the start of a process initiated by the interested party.

This seems off kilter on a few levels.