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Politics : View from the Center and Left -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: T L Comiskey who wrote (298916)	5/8/2016 4:35:12 PM
From: abuelita	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 543488

To: T L Comiskey who wrote (298916)	5/8/2016 5:38:01 PM
From: Gary Mohilner	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 543488

The problem in our education system is the goal which seems to be, all children go to college. We've reached the point where in almost every case, all children must go to something beyond high school because we've taken away the shop and other courses that give kids skills in high school that can be used on graduation. We need to recognize that some of the most successful people in the world didn't go to college, or if they did it was after they made their fortunes elsewhere. Our schools need to challenge people to think, once they're thinking, they can often find the direction in their live that they want to go, and that they're suited for. We need to recognize that not everyone is suited to a college education, but we also need to recognize that many of the current college choices in terms of majors fail to offer occupational opportunity on graduation. I have no qualms with people becoming experts in subjects that don't have occupational opportunity other than teaching what they've learned, but those majors should have one other requirement, a minor in an area that does have occupational opportunity. Students choosing the likes of engineering, which has immediate demand on graduation are fine, but those selecting areas where no employment opportunities exist unless you have a PhD in the subject need to have minors where their is a demand. More importantly, we need to admit that not every child wants, or needs, to go for higher education, but we force everyone to go for more education by not permitting them access to things like auto, wood, electric, etc. shops. People with high school educations decades ago came out of school with skills that permitted them to work in construction, plumbing, electrical, auto repair, etc. Today many of these people run companies that do these things, they learned the business from the bottom up and they often earn far more than college graduates even decades after they graduated. Certainly that's not true for everyone, many just stay in the workforce, not becoming an owner, but as craftsmen in their field, they earn a good working living. My point isn't to deny college to those with the desire, and capability, of going. Capability is something which must be established regardless of how great the desire is. I have worked with middle grade kids who still were having real problems with adding one half plus one quarter. I was asked to help them with algebra, but how do you teach algebra to someone who has no mathematical skills whatsoever. We need to stop passing kids on to higher levels when they have none of the skills from the lower level that are needed at the higher level. It's not a case that a kid is a failure, it's a case of finding what that kid can succeed at. In some cases when a kid sees why mathematics is important that they learn it. Places like wood shops are places where mathematics are employed, their elimination has removed the opportunity for some to see it. Much the same can be said for art, music, etc. They keep showing where kids that learn these skills also do better in academic courses, yet they keep cutting them from the curriculum. In Japan, early determination is made of which student is best qualified for university, and which is best for other occupations. This too has it's flaws as late bloomers might never bloom. However, they at least recognize that one size doesn't fit all. We need to move in their direction, at least some, and perhaps they need to move in our direction some. My point is that the kids themselves need to play a bigger part in determining their destiny, we need to provide the tools to help them get there. Gary