> From: Davidwilk@aol.com
> Date: Tue, 30 Apr 1996 19:17:13 -0400
>
> Replying to LO7049 --
>
> Joan I noticed your post where you said, "Keep in mind, these are just the
> kids who are in college at CSU - itdoesn't include all the kids that never
> even apply, or who go to two year colleges first. As we get deeper into
> the information age, our primary and high schools are failing us. Who
> will we have to hire in 10 years? Thoughts?"
The situation is a very complex one. I said in an earlier message
that we may not really need more money, but more dedication,
understanding, will to work harder and smarter, etc.
> The condition and future of our society concerns me. For me, some
> questions that lend perspective to the percentages of freshmen "not ready
> for college" include: What are comparable figures for 60s, 70s, and 80s?
> Were these students attempting to attend college in previous decades?
Some of the Florida state supported universities have started (or
will start) given entrance essay exams to High Schools graduates to
determine if they really know how to write, etc. They are not trusting
the scores in standardize tests because of grade inflation, etc. I think
that part of the problem is due to the importance given to those tests
that many HS's tend to teach the test rather than "really" prepare the
students for college. Universities have not been very good customers. We
don't work with the K-12 systems to make sure that help develop students
to be ready for real college work, whatever this means.
> For me, a key issue is all of the factors in our society is the growing
> numbers of students who come from families and homes with limited incomes.
> The number of low socio-economic students (free & reduced lunch
> qualifiers) is increasing dramatically in urban school districts - not
> just in the huge cities.
>
Is the assumption here that low socio-economic status is an
indicator of problem? We can see all around us, medium class and upper
class kids doing drugs, punching teachers out their shoes, sleeping in
class (some of them even do it at Barry University where the semester a
little over $6,000.00), and in general showing poor performance.
> Most of these students start school behind. For society, to what extent
> are willing to invest in education to bring these students to level of
> others by the time they leave school.
>
Starting the school behind has probably more to do with poor
parenting than with being poor. I was very poor, still am! But, I had
parents who taught us at home how to read, write, add, substract, etc.,
before any us (seven kids) stepped in a school halway! As I say, the
deterioration of society is happeing at all levels. The poor do not
aducate their kids at enough (if any) becaus they lack parenting skills,
and the middle class parents do not educate theirs at home either because
they are too busy working to live! The difference is that the middle
class can still afford good day care, which helps some when they go to
school.
> More important, to me, is not the question of whether are schools are
> failing us, but can our democratic society continue to exist with a large,
> growing "underclass." For me, what is happening in education is a
> symptom, not the underlying cause of a shortage of students well-prepared
> for work.
>
David, if there is a growing group (underclass), then governments,
schools, private organizations, and every one else should help in
educating that underclass, simply because it makes business sense if for
not other reason. You either pay for their education now, or pay (suffer)
the costs of underclass adults who become criminals, etc.
-- Ivan,
--*************************************************************** R. IVAN BLANCO, Ph.D. Voice 305 899-3515 Assoc. Prof. & Director Fax 305 892-6412 International Business Programs Andreas School of Business _________E-Mail Addresses________ Barry University Bitnet: Blanco%bu4090@Barryu Miami Shores, FL 33161-6695 Internet: Blanco@bu4090.barry.edu <<<<< ---------------- >>>>> "Si un hombre fuera necesario para sostener el Estado, este Estado no deberia existir." "If one man were necessary to sustain a Nation, this Nation should not exist." Simon Bolivar ===============================================================
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