Preparing All High School Students

This past week, forty-five of the nation’s governors met in a symposium, declaring that high schools must toughen standards and prepare every student for college. Bill Gates, furthered this idea. A wonderful concept, but two diametrically opposing concepts. As any realist knows, not every person’s brain is wired for to be college education material. That is not a bad thing!! Colleges and universities are designed for those who learn best by engaging in reading and written work. The problem is that colleges were never meant to further the education of every single person. They have been designed to serve those who learn best in a rather narrow model of education.

For decades it was accepted fact that only the best students could attend college. Then, after WWII, that vision was expanded to include decent students (the G.I. Bill was the incentive). In the mid 1970’s community colleges began to appear in mass, offering an alternative path to mediocre high school students to getting a degree. Many of the first year courses were review/remedial classes. Those students who were either motivated, or finally able to grasp the necessary concepts could then move on and eventually, get a college degree.

What Americans must keep in mind is 35% of the population have vocational careers (I don’t mean assembly lines). These are actual trades such as plumbing, electrical, carpenters, glass repair, HVAC, mechanics, framers, photographers, appliance repair, the list goes on and on. This 35% has held very steady according to surveyors.

So, how does America strengthen academic standards, keeping a high value on a college degree, lowering dropout rates, and giving every student a sound foundation for a career?

One: Every high school should offer Honors, AB, or Baccalaureate program for those students who excel academically. Students who complete such program (including a rigorous set of tests) would receive both an Academic Diploma and automatic entry into their state’s top Universities.

Two: Students who complete high school doing regular coursework and pass a set of standardized tests would receive an Examination Diploma and automatic entry into their state’s second tier of colleges or universities. If the student performs well academically, they could then move up to a top tier school.

Three: Students who complete high school but do not pass the tests would receive a Completion Diploma. They could continue their education at a community or junior college. If they perform well academically and pass the high school examination they could move up to a second tier school. After a second year of collegiate success they have the opportunity to gain entry into a top-tier university.

Four: Those students who struggle academically but complete a combination of basic academic skills and vocational training would receive a Vocational Diploma. This allows these students a road into a career. They could then seek additional vocational training, or directly enter the workforce. At least they would have a foundation of preparation.

My point……. We must prepare all students for a successful future, not just those who fit in the standardized box of academia. Industrial Education must be rescued and restored in our public schools. In the past ten years, industrial arts classes have been cut or dissolved altogether. Teachers of this field were let go, thus leaving little or no outlet for students who struggled in a normal classroom to stay in school. A direct correlation can be made between increased dropout rates and the cutting of Industrial Arts classes just by superimposing one graph on top of the other.

My ideas are only a starting point, much more discussion of ideas, not rhetoric, must ensue. It is time to examine and implement a course that will benefit our nation’s future.