Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Early College - Pros and Cons

Idaho plan would pay kids to graduate early

[...]Idaho lawmakers have proposed giving scholarships to high school students who enroll in college early. Eight other states are participating in a program that would allow high school sophomores to pass a series of tests and graduate early.

[...]Idaho’s plan goes further than other programs around the country because it would allow students to graduate from high school up to three years early, and then receive taxpayer money to enroll at a state university or community college. Students would receive approximately $1,600 in scholarship money for each year they graduate early. read the entire article at the Spokesman Review

There is no doubt that many young people are held back by our government controlled educational system and would benefit from being allowed to enter college early.  By a fluke in the old laws, and my birthday falling thirteen minutes to midnight on New Year's Eve, I entered school almost a full year younger than my classmates.  That had me entering college at seventeen.  It worked well for me since I found high school quite boring.

As the article points out the influx of younger people to college campuses would not necessarily be in best welfare of the younger students.  Many college campuses have degenerated into bastions of drinking and fornication, instead of of places for young folks to just occupy their spare time with youthful pranks. On the other hand, that could also describe many high schools.  Due to much of the molly-coddling and silly things like the "self-esteem movement" the maturity level of the average high-schooler today is also much lower than when I was a young person. 

I do agree with ID Rep. Brendon Durst when he says we spend an inordinate amount of time and energy focused on the bottom third of the students.  This is one of the main problems with most government-run schools which certainly deserve a grade no higher than a good solid "D."

What do you think about this plan?


 

 

9 comments:

Gramma 2 Many said...

I heard about it last week, but am not sure I agree. In our schools here in Washington, and I am sure around the country, there is a program that allows gifted students to take college level classes at the high school level. When they graduate from high school, they already have a 2 year degree at the college level. Here it is called Running Start. My grandson will be graduating this spring and is looking at Universities in the area now. He has actually applied to four and has been accepted by all four. He will be entering what ever College or University he chooses with an Associates degree.
I am wondering why this is not enough. Why does there have to be more of our money dumped into another program to boggle down?

RightKlik said...

I wish I had started college sooner. HS was largely a waste of time. Hopefully my kid(s) will start college sooner than I did.

Adrienne said...

G2M - The only upside is the money would come from what they expected to pay for them to stay in high school which create a savings. Sometimes that's the best we can hope for.

Adrienne said...

RightKlik - I hated high school. I wouldn't have even shown up for my graduation except they made me. Didn't go to my prom either. And, trust me, the private school I went to was nothing like the public schools are today. Much harder!

The average Religious Ed student I dealt with at church (7th - 12th grade) couldn't even write a complete sentence. Appalling!

Mary Ellen said...

The high school that my kids went to has a huge building next door to it that has advanced college level classes for students who test into them. They actually receive their college credits in these classes and can transfer them to any college or university they choose to go. This has the advantage of allowing them to take the classes they are strong in to advance and still stay in the classes they are weaker in at the high school. It also allows them to stay within their own social network instead of being thrown in with kids who are much more mature than they are and ready to handle living away from home on a college campus.

I think it's only one of a few such campuses that have this, however.

And a little off topic video for you...not sure if you've seen it but I thought you would enjoy it. ;-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWi182CMJY8

Adrienne said...

Mary Ellen - I think that type of program works well and is a good alternative.

Was that video actually on Sat. Night Live??

Mary Ellen said...

Adrienne- I'm not sure if that video was on SNL because I never watch it. I just found it at a blog I go to from time to time.

Joe of St. Thérèse said...

I hated high school with a passion...

Actually, I think we should just ax the current education system and start all over...

If I had it my way, I'd get rid of the waste of time classes (aka GE's) and the Liberal indoctrination.

I don't want to take up 20 pages commenting at my frustration with the system :)

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