A group from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education examined the philosophy and effects of preparing every high school student for college. The study was released yesterday.
The movement started with good intentions to raise the academic standards, expecting that student performance will follow. For some students, it has been a good path. But for many others, it has been damaging, according to the study. Education Week paraphrased the report.
By concentrating too much on classroom-based academics with four-year college as a goal, the nation’s education system has failed vast numbers of students, who instead need solid preparation for careers requiring less than a bachelor’s degree, Harvard scholars
Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce Director Anthony P. Carnevale agrees, “Since 1983 and A Nation at Risk, we’ve been very single-minded about kids going to college. It’s good, but it’s too narrow.”
The original movement was (at least partially) grounded in sound projections. In 1973, 70% of all US jobs were held by people with only a high school education. In 2007, it dropped to 40%. The future promises to show further decrease.
There seems to be some consensus that some sort of training after high school is the target to reach, whether it is vocational/technical training, an associate’s degree path, or a four year university.
“Every high school graduate should find viable ways of pursuing both a career and a meaningful post-secondary degree or credential,” the report says. “For too many of our youth, we have treated preparing for college versus preparing for a career as mutually exclusive options.”
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