posted on Nov, 30 2007 @ 10:46 PM
You have some interesting ideas.
I agree that it shouldn't be necessary to have a college degree in order to get a decent job. College develops the mind in important ways, but it
doesn't always train people for a specific job. Whether you're a college graduate or a high school graduate, either way your employer has to train
you in the company's ways of doing things. Many employers want to see that degree just as proof that a person has the perseverance to get through
four years of education. But it does make them pass by some intelligent, talented people who for any number of reasons were not able, or didn't
want, to go college.
There are some jobs like those in heating & air conditioning, plumbing, electrician, skilled construction, etc.--the trades-- that pay well (VERY well
if you own your own business) but only require a few courses at a community college or an apprenticeship. It's possible to get a good job and become
middle class (even college doesn't guarantee you'll be upper class)without going to college, but it's harder.
It's true that if college courses were taught at the high school level then college would be free. IMO that would be difficult to do. College
courses are different from high school courses in important ways.While h.s. classes focus on giving information, college is more about learning how to
think logically and to develop your own ideas. It usually takes four years of concentrated effort for a bachelor's agree, and two more years for a
master's.
To teach college courses in h.s. would mean that high school courses would have to be taught in middle school, and middle school courses in elementary
school. I think it's possible to make the curriculum more challenging, and I see no reason why some college courses couldn't be taught in high
school. But I'm not sure if it could all be crammed into twelve years of schooling. If it were, you might have more people dropping out when they
turned sixteen, and you'd still have a dropout problem. It might be better to fund junior colleges more. I've taught in a community college and
there were Pell grants for those students who could not afford tuition (these are grants, not loans) as well as scholarships. It's not impossible to
go to college if you really want to go.
You've asked some challenging questions. Thank you.
[edit on 30-11-2007 by Sestias]
[edit on 30-11-2007 by Sestias]
[edit on 30-11-2007 by Sestias]
[edit on 30-11-2007 by Sestias]