"Everybody Goes to College!"

I was reminded of this inanity from Gov Jennie.

A study just came out that even in the very top public school districts, where 90% and more go to colleges and the state test scores are the best, fewer than half of the students are "college ready." Now, I don't think the article defined "college ready," but I assume it means the ability to read, write, do math, and think critically and creatively. It indicated the very high percentages of students who must take remedial classes in college, that is, retake high school courses, except having to pay for them this time. Now, really, is this a surprise? It can't be, but "Everybody goes to college!"

First, if this is so, imagine how watered down the curricula must be. And, if an educated workforce is more and more important, yet the learning is lessened and lessened, well, figure it out. Can colleges afford to fail students unprepared to do college work? Of course not, so what happens. The "college-level work" isn't "college-level work." The grades are inflated, despite easier work. So, college grads are really the high school grads of 30-40 years ago.

Was it Thomas Sowell who said something like that 10 years ago?

Second, with so few actually able to do college work, no wonder there are "colleges" (and I'm using the term loosely) who claim to get students their degrees in one or two years. Now that must be some demanding curricula!

Third, who says high school students have to graduate and be "college ready." Well, the article assumes the state dept of edu is correct in saying 85 or 90% of future Michigan jobs will require post-secondary study. Bah. First, not all "post-secondary" study means college. Second, BAH! Think about it. Does the carpenter have to be college-educated? Does the guy who dry cleans your clothes need a degree? How about your plumber, the guy who fixes your dryer or lays your cement driveway? The list seems endless. (Now, I think I can make a case for college-education and better citizens and lives, but that's different....) Like my math friends say, "If you begin with a false premise, you can prove anything."

For that matter, why do all high school students need to graduate knowing "Algebra II?" Of course, I believe in math and its value, the math itself, the logic, the problem solving, etc. But all those can be taken care of in lower level math courses. "Algebra II?" I don't think so, Tim.

Now this isn't at all an apology for making school easier. Quite the contrary, I believe high school is far too easy. I have college students coming to ask me for "extra credit!" "Extra credit" in college????? I know other instructors give it. I know counselors also ask if there is "extra credit." "Extra credit" in college????!!!! But where do student become wedded to the notion of "extra credit?" Yes, that's right. High school is far too easy. Match up the abysmal test scores (although I'm not a fan of tests) with the inflated GPAs. See. Part of the problem, that far too few people recognize, is the teachers and administrators. Most of them have never been through any sort of rigorous, demanding quality education. They have degrees in "education," "math education," not math, etc. The teachers graduating have the lowest GPAs outside of their ed classes in the colleges. Years ago, when I was going over applicants' records to fill a history position at the hs, I was appalled at the number of Ds and Cs, and how very few As, these prospective "teachers" had on their records. I was reminded of this several times over the past year or so, when people noted, "Well, he's not the best student and isn't very motivated, so I suggested he be a teacher." Great, just great! And who gets to be the administrators, those who hire the new generations of teachers? Often, it's the weakest (I never use that term, but thought I'd toss it in here for old times sake--some people will know what I mean, if anyone, if they read this) teachers who become the principals, assistants, etc. So, the beat goes on....

"Everybody Goes to College!"