Higher education shouldn’t be the be-all and end-all of K-12 education, writes “edu-traitor” Cathy Davidson, an English professor, in an Inside Higher Ed commentary.
Higher education is incredibly valuable, even precious, for many. But it is bad for individuals and society to be retrofitting learning all the way back to preschool, as if the only skills valuable, vital, necessary in the world are the ones that earn you a B.S., BA, or a graduate and professional degree.
Many jobs require specialized knowledge, intelligence and skills, but not a college education, Davidson notes. Yet our educational system “defines learning so narrowly that whole swaths of human intelligence, skill, talent, creativity, imagination, and accomplishment do not count.”
Schools are cutting art, music, P.E. and shop to focus on college prep, Davidson complains. (I’d say schools are cutting electives — especially shop — to focus on basic reading and math skills.)
. . . many brilliant, talented young people are dropping out of high school because they see high school as implicitly “college prep” and they cannot imagine anything more dreary than spending four more years bored in a classroom when they could be out actually experiencing and perfecting their skills in the trades and the careers that inspire them.
We need value “the full range of intellectual possibility and potential for everyone,” Davidson writes.
The brilliant, talented kid who drops out to pursue a passion for art, carpentry or cosmetology is a rare bird, I think. But Davidson is right about the college-or-bust mentality in K-12 education. Many students who are bored by academics could be motivated — maybe even inspired — by a chance to develop marketable skills.
Some 80 percent of new community college students say they want to earn a bachelor’s degree. They sign up for remedial or general education courses. Few succeed. Students who pursue vocational goals — a welding certificate, an associate degree in medical technology — are far more likely to graduate.
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at 10:08 am
[...] Reading: Community College Spotlight | College shouldn't be the only K-12 goal Posted in College Education, Higher Education Tags: and-society, education, even-precious, [...]
at 7:15 pm
[...] k-12 education – Google Blog Search « COMMUNITY COMMENT: Dual-credit program can aid many – Evansville Courier-Press [...]
at 3:47 am
[...] Community College Spotlight | College shouldn't be the only K-12 goal Higher education shouldn't be the be-all and end-all of K-12 education, writes “edu-traitor” Cathy Davidson, an English professor, in an Inside Higher Ed commentary. Higher education is incredibly valuable, even precious … Source: communitycollegespotlight.org [...]
at 9:49 am
Very true, entrepreneurship should be the main goal. For example instead of looking just towards college, a student could be studying web design on the side or seriously practicing dance. The pressure to go to a 4 year college clouds many people’s judgement.