The majority of high schools in America do little to help students feel certain in their pursuit of higher education. Homestead High School continually perpetuates this unfortunate circumstance, despite the school’s stellar four-year continuation of basic education and preparation for college. Although endorsed across the country, the one-size-fits-all approach lacks individuality that is essential to building up confidence in one’s career choice. In its article “UC should encourage computer ed,” the Editorial Board calls for a change in the high school curriculum to produce more prepared high school graduates. While the article focuses on the addition of more required classes, the reorganization of the current learning structure deserves an
Close work with others would highlight peer collaboration due to the small size of specific departments. Classmates with similar passions would have the ability to interact and expand their knowledge in a subject. For example, students studying under the science branch of Homestead could be pursuing a career in biology and in chemistry. Their common interest of science brings classmates together to flesh out their curiosities. Inter-student learning is advantageous because it encourages peers to develop and improve themselves with the help of one another. Moreover, departments would require pledged high school students to take courses relating to their interest. The English Literature and Writing branch should offer classes such as general English Literature and Writing, but have a primary focus in providing specialized courses, such as different literary periods in history or literature of different countries. Therefore, the freedom of choice offered would eliminate wasted time on subjects that are not of interest. Although one could argue that an education centered on one idea is dangerous to the popular method of a well-rounded education, adolescents often leave high school without deepening their interests. Without doing so, a missed opportunity of
Hopefully, with the transition to a department-based system, Homestead can guarantee its graduates the confidence of a positive and solid future. With substantial change to the organization of the curriculum, a former high school student can become a successful undergraduate equipped to handle the uncertain challenges that await in the
From the beginning of high school, students strap on their seatbelts and prepare for one of the most vigorous races of their lives – becoming successful. With the rare occurrence of a break, kids are expected to keep on driving as fast and as powerfully as they can in order to get into a “great” college, which would be followed by graduate school and then an actual job that would make a lot of money. In American society, common values include working hard, determination, and being so productive that free time is not even a question. However, this philosophy is taking a major toll on American college and high school students. For at least 40 years, America’s future has been steadily growing unmotivated, tired, and hopeless due to the overemphasis on performing well in school. This phenomenon is appropriately expounded in William Zinsser’s “College Pressures”, which takes a look at the top four sources of tension that cause these feelings of dejection and agitation. After reading this article, I came up with a few solutions to this national problem. It is time to switch the harsh, over-encouraging green light of education to a comfortable yellow one. In order to make this ideal transition, directors of education across the country need to primarily reduce the amount of out-of-class assignments, lighten the grading system, and incorporate days in the school year that allow students to express their thoughts about school and provide useful feedback.
Community college is the next step for higher education. Sara E. Keene explains the path she took to achieve the american dream in Keene’s article “Higher education and ‘The American Dream,’”. Keene quickly becomes disappointed with community colleges because instead of helping break down down social classes, ethnicity, and other social barriers and opportunities they are encouraging them. Keene wants all students to be equally challenged to reach their full potential. Just like her professors Ted Hamilton and Paula Clarke challenged her to reach their full potential. Keene believes that remedial courses do not help challenge students to become successful. I agree that all students should
Throughout this course, topics such as the transition from high school to college, learning skills, self-discovery, and career exploration have been discussed. Conversations occurred concerning the challenges and benefits of private and public colleges as well as the transition from high school to college. We also talked about our strengths and weaknesses while studying. Finally we talked about the jobs that we wanted, and the jobs we would be good at. During the rest of this paper, I will go into more detail about the topics we discussed; and go more in detail with what I learned.
Attendance at a technical college or local 2-year school was deplorably referenced to as “loser’s territory” and if you dared to enroll in one anyway and followed through to graduation, well you were congratulated but to a lackluster fanfare. Some community college graduates still receive this reception upon exit of a community college but attitudes are definitely changing. Today more than ever, degree-seeking individuals are paving the path to their careers through the entrance and exit doors of community colleges. These well-informed leaders of the new school have realized a smarter way to education; that a bachelor’s degree or taking a traditional route to obtain one is not necessarily the best or right way to be a successful and employable member of society.
Over the past few years, people have begun to see going to college as a way to achieve the American Dream through career-readiness. People used to go to college, hoping to get a better well-rounded education. For most the well-rounded education, it usually came with the courses required for a liberal arts education. The courses would provide a level of analytical and in-depth understanding that would prepare the students for both life and whichever career path chosen. No matter the amount of money paid, parents would be willing to gi...
The fairly recent idea of “college for all” is not practical for every student, and the rigor and push toward college has led to a curriculum that is irrelevant for many young people. As a result, we have seen an increase in drop-out rates for at-risk students over the last several years ("Completion, Graduation, and Dropouts."). HB5 is critical in the realm of social welfare. It moves us toward giving all students the opportunity to graduate high school, and recognizes that each student is unique, with different learning styles, and have different goals in life. It sends the message that all professions are valued in our society, not only the careers that require college degrees.
As the economy evolves and the job market continues to get more competitive, it’s becoming harder to have a successful career without some kind of college degree. This creates a belief in many young students that college actually is a commodity, something they must have in order to have a good life. There’s many different factors that influence this mindset, high schools must push the importance of the student’s willingness and drive to further their education. College isn’t just a gateway to jobs, but it is an opportunity to increase knowledge and stretch and challenge the student which in return makes them a more rounded adult and provides them with skills they might lack prior to
As the high school chapter is coming to a close, many students have to make a decision that will affect the rest of their lives. Hopefully, for many that decision is to enroll in a college and attain a higher education. However, as tuition costs rise, students have to take a second look at their options for a better future. A community college is that second look for many because it is the less expensive option. From 2007-2009, enrollment for community colleges has increased by 24 percent (“College costs and the CPI”). Students aren’t choosing a college for educational purposes because they are overwhelmed by financial issues. They are attending community colleges so they will be able to graduate with a lower debt. Some seniors have wanted to attend a certain university all their life and they work toward that goal through grade school; however, they are hindered by soaring tuition for that college. Students should be able to attend a private university if they mee...
So as to improve the K-12 education, the United States needs to redesign the high schools. The initiative by the president to redesign the high schools is significant in encouraging the schools to use the available resources. Schools together with their partners should take into using the resources that exist effectively. These resources are in the local, state and the federal so as to transform the experience in the high schools for the youth through energy of the whole school redesign. This effort of redesigning the high schools will help challenge them and their partners in rethinking learning and teaching. These reforms should constitute of learning that is personalized and college and career exploration that will ens...
Students and parents of Worland High School should begin their college preparation much earlier in the student’s high school experience than most people believe. In some parts of the United States, students are being encouraged to start thinking about how to get into college when they are in middle school or even grade school. Some high-school students and parents agree that starting early to prepare for college and career is essential, while others argue that starting too soon may contribute to burnout. Although some may believe that it is wiser to wait and have high-school students face a "college admissions frenzy", I feel that students should start to prepare for college earlier in their education rather than in their senior year. Therefore, I advise parents and students of Worland High School to begin their college application process and searches earlier than the student’s senior year.
Students go to college in search of knowledge, a new lifestyle, and the hope of a job after graduation. For many young adults, college is a rite of passage into an independent, mature new lifestyle. Not only is higher education a rite of passage, for some, it is also an opportunity to have a better life. Overall, college is a wonderful part of many people’s lives, yet the way the college education system is conducted wastes students time and money. College is basically composed of two parts: general education classes and major specific classes. General education courses are the source of wasted time and money, and should not be required of students. A few of the problems associated with general education classes are that they are basically a repeat of high school, unfortunately they can be the demise of students, they are costly, and they waste time.
to about 83 percent of high school graduates enroll in some form of postsecondary education, but only about 52 percent of students complete their degrees. Further, a very small proportion of students complete a degree in four years—“among students starting at ‘four-year’ institutions, only 34 percent finish a B.A. in four years, 64 percent within six years, and 69 percent within eight and a half years.” Colleges always want students to graduate and support their alma mater. However this begins with deciding what student are mentally readiness and determination for the task that lies ahead, college. In today’s society we struggle trying to find a proper definition for college readiness. This is the main reason statistics and graduation rates suffer in the way that they do. Just because a high school student reaches the age of 18, obtains a high school diploma, and has functional literacy, does that really make students college ready?
My goal is to implement a similar program at the high school level where students are exposed to this level of support and companionship; all united in the same goal of helping each other succeed. It is also essential for students to witness what college is like before stepping inside for the first day of class. To see what college is like, and to experiment the environment goes a long way for students who are new to the experience. The Roaring Fork School District Pre-Collegiate Program is a prime example of what a stable source of support and assistance can do in the long run. This school district, located within Colorado’s western slope,
In conclusion, the core curriculum is vital to life of any student, yet with more personal choice and freedom, the high school environment can be strengthened and improved . Having a more balanced high school curriculum, with more options for the students, would also allow students to narrow their focus on a particular field or subject, while preparing them for their major in college. It would even boost the confidence of the student body, and therefore boost the Test scores as well. In addition, students who have trouble recognizing their talents, might be able to have a more fulfilling high school experience. The purpose of school is to prepare one for the future and ones occupation; it is certain, that having a more elective-based high school program would do just that.
Also, unlike high school, the reading was much more entertaining. In high school, I really enjoyed very few of the texts that were discussed in class. In...