In the last post on education we looked at the possibility that not everyone can or should go to college. There are a lot of good reasons to consider alternatives and "take the road less traveled".
When a student completes secondary school and graduates, there is a great deal of pressure to go on to college. The cultural expectation is that college will prepare the student for career success and better citizenship. Well, maybe, but it is as likely that it will lead to disappointment and a lot of debt. Please do not consider my comments as anti-education, but more of a reality check of the cultural norm.
If a student has gone through high school with a clear understanding of what they want to do as an adult and is academically prepared, then college is a great choice. But, many graduates do not have a clue as to what they want to do, and worse, are not academically prepared. It seems to me that there are at least three factors to consider when making the choice for additional education. They are learning style, motivation, and interest. If a student learns by hands on or experiential means, then sitting in a lecture hall with a hundred other people will be at the very least difficult, and at best not a pleasant educational experience. If a student is not motivated to learn and willing to work hard to gain a specific knowledge base, then they are wasting their time and taking up valuable space in the college setting. If the student is not interested in being part of the dynamic conversation of education and being challenged, then they should consider an alternative path.
My simple observation is that the rush to go to college directly after finishing high school may be the wrong choice for students who have not been driven to succeed in a particular discipline. There is nothing wrong with waiting for a year or two to decide how to proceed. During that time, it would be a perfect opportunity to try several different types of jobs of interest. Try the trades, take some night courses at the community college, take time to learn what real life is like. Take some online courses, read a lot, follow current events, and grow in responsibility and maturity. And, there is nothing wrong with flipping burgers if you have a plan to leave that behind at some time or become a manager or franchise owner. One other quick thought: Use social media as a tool and not as a meaningless diversion. People on Facebook can live without you and you can spend more time on substance rather than wasting time on the non-productive. As always, comments are welcomed...
When a student completes secondary school and graduates, there is a great deal of pressure to go on to college. The cultural expectation is that college will prepare the student for career success and better citizenship. Well, maybe, but it is as likely that it will lead to disappointment and a lot of debt. Please do not consider my comments as anti-education, but more of a reality check of the cultural norm.
If a student has gone through high school with a clear understanding of what they want to do as an adult and is academically prepared, then college is a great choice. But, many graduates do not have a clue as to what they want to do, and worse, are not academically prepared. It seems to me that there are at least three factors to consider when making the choice for additional education. They are learning style, motivation, and interest. If a student learns by hands on or experiential means, then sitting in a lecture hall with a hundred other people will be at the very least difficult, and at best not a pleasant educational experience. If a student is not motivated to learn and willing to work hard to gain a specific knowledge base, then they are wasting their time and taking up valuable space in the college setting. If the student is not interested in being part of the dynamic conversation of education and being challenged, then they should consider an alternative path.
My simple observation is that the rush to go to college directly after finishing high school may be the wrong choice for students who have not been driven to succeed in a particular discipline. There is nothing wrong with waiting for a year or two to decide how to proceed. During that time, it would be a perfect opportunity to try several different types of jobs of interest. Try the trades, take some night courses at the community college, take time to learn what real life is like. Take some online courses, read a lot, follow current events, and grow in responsibility and maturity. And, there is nothing wrong with flipping burgers if you have a plan to leave that behind at some time or become a manager or franchise owner. One other quick thought: Use social media as a tool and not as a meaningless diversion. People on Facebook can live without you and you can spend more time on substance rather than wasting time on the non-productive. As always, comments are welcomed...
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