Here's a pretty dismal article about how much college is really worth:
Is a Bachelor's degree worth it?
Bottom line:
College is expensive.
Consider working for a few years BEFORE you go, to help clarify WHY you want to go.
Don't go to find out what you want to do with your life.
Go when you have a clear idea of what college will get you, as in "I need to have a ___ degree in order to be a ___"
Don't go unless you have it paid for.
Don't pay for college with student loans.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Saturday, December 18, 2010
It's the wrong goal, and it's wreaking havoc.
Again, a disclaimer. This is about K-12 education, not about education as it applies to colleges and universities.
In July of '08 I wrote about how a degree in education is about equivalent to a degree in conjuring. There is not a core body of knowledge that is included in all university teacher preparation programs, like there is for medicine, engineering, or even psychology.
There certainly could be. There certainly ought to be. But why does it not exist?
It's because the goal of K-12 public education isn't about how students learn. It's a conveyor belt designed to spit out a college-ready student at age 18.
While there are many things about learning that apply to this goal, the goal is really nearly impossible.
First, only about 70% of the population actually graduates from high school. Then, only about 32% of THESE are actually qualified to go to college. Perhaps more actually go to college, because colleges complain loudly about the amount of remedial work they have to do before their students can take college level courses. Google the question about how much of the general population actually graduates from college and you get a lot of nebulous answers. Many try college, fewer finish.
K-12 education is laid out on the industrial-manufacturing-conveyor-belt model. It should be on the customer service model. "What do you need? How can we help you?" But "college-ready by 18" is the tail wagging the dog.
So in education we poke and tweak and fall heir to the latest educational fads, trying to figure out why our model does not work. K-12 educators are required to get certified in all kinds of nonsense. The worst one while I was working on my MA-Ed degree was Howard Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences. Gardner never meant it to be a model for educating, and I saw it implemented in stupid, ghastly ways based on zero research. It mostly became a reason for a student to not do his/her homework, as in "According to Multiple Intelligences, I'm no good at math, and you can't expect me to do this." A lot of garbage was written and a lot books were sold, and money was made, but now all that has given way to something else. Several times have we given way to something else. The central body of knowledge about education gets more and more nebulous.
How DO people learn? What do we intend to achieve by sending them all to school? When we actually have good answers to that question, when we stop trying to use 'education' to force a template on the student, when we stop trying to force the model onto the student, then we will be able to observe the student rather than the outcome. We'll have several models, a bigger toolbox filled with real tools rather than magic wands and spells that sometimes work and we don't know why.
But it won't be a teacher preparation program that distributes it. It will be people with skills who will want to learn how to teach them to others. Notice the order. You have skills first. Then you want to find out how to teach those skills.
Now about that disclaimer. Some of the BEST teacher preparation programs are found in grad schools who use graduate students to teach undergraduate classes in all kinds of subjects. Those grad students are given a crash course in how to design and manage a course, grade fairly, and deal with whiny students. Notice they are given a specific set of skills to impart to their students, then they become teachers, usually of students who want those skills. And that works much better.
In K-12 education, we think we need to make students want to learn. Perhaps we should re-examine that notion!
In July of '08 I wrote about how a degree in education is about equivalent to a degree in conjuring. There is not a core body of knowledge that is included in all university teacher preparation programs, like there is for medicine, engineering, or even psychology.
There certainly could be. There certainly ought to be. But why does it not exist?
It's because the goal of K-12 public education isn't about how students learn. It's a conveyor belt designed to spit out a college-ready student at age 18.
While there are many things about learning that apply to this goal, the goal is really nearly impossible.
First, only about 70% of the population actually graduates from high school. Then, only about 32% of THESE are actually qualified to go to college. Perhaps more actually go to college, because colleges complain loudly about the amount of remedial work they have to do before their students can take college level courses. Google the question about how much of the general population actually graduates from college and you get a lot of nebulous answers. Many try college, fewer finish.
K-12 education is laid out on the industrial-manufacturing-conveyor-belt model. It should be on the customer service model. "What do you need? How can we help you?" But "college-ready by 18" is the tail wagging the dog.
So in education we poke and tweak and fall heir to the latest educational fads, trying to figure out why our model does not work. K-12 educators are required to get certified in all kinds of nonsense. The worst one while I was working on my MA-Ed degree was Howard Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences. Gardner never meant it to be a model for educating, and I saw it implemented in stupid, ghastly ways based on zero research. It mostly became a reason for a student to not do his/her homework, as in "According to Multiple Intelligences, I'm no good at math, and you can't expect me to do this." A lot of garbage was written and a lot books were sold, and money was made, but now all that has given way to something else. Several times have we given way to something else. The central body of knowledge about education gets more and more nebulous.
How DO people learn? What do we intend to achieve by sending them all to school? When we actually have good answers to that question, when we stop trying to use 'education' to force a template on the student, when we stop trying to force the model onto the student, then we will be able to observe the student rather than the outcome. We'll have several models, a bigger toolbox filled with real tools rather than magic wands and spells that sometimes work and we don't know why.
But it won't be a teacher preparation program that distributes it. It will be people with skills who will want to learn how to teach them to others. Notice the order. You have skills first. Then you want to find out how to teach those skills.
Now about that disclaimer. Some of the BEST teacher preparation programs are found in grad schools who use graduate students to teach undergraduate classes in all kinds of subjects. Those grad students are given a crash course in how to design and manage a course, grade fairly, and deal with whiny students. Notice they are given a specific set of skills to impart to their students, then they become teachers, usually of students who want those skills. And that works much better.
In K-12 education, we think we need to make students want to learn. Perhaps we should re-examine that notion!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
It's not cheating, it's coaching...
Well, decide for yourself. The link below is for an article about a writer who writes papers for students. I find what he says about college quite interesting. Also note what he says about libraries, Google, and Amazon. Hmm.
http://chronicle.com/article/article-content/125329/
http://chronicle.com/article/article-content/125329/
Friday, June 4, 2010
I'm starting to dislike Running Start
Up until recently, Running Start (RS hereafter) was a pretty good idea for homeschooled students who wanted to knock off two years of college at state expense. Now, new restrictions that let the local high school decide eligibility have pretty much trashed the program, and I'm going to advise you homeschoolers in WA to think carefully about your participation.
I teach at a local community college.
I've always had some cautions about RS. Sixteen-year-olds in an adult environment is something you parents need to think carefully about. Assignments can get tossed their way and presentations in class might be something you would wish could wait to have your teen exposed to. And you don't get to ask the instructor how your student is doing, because Federal privacy laws prevent instructors from communicating with anyone but the student about grades. Community college instructors are generally of a liberal bent, and are pretty careless about family and spiritual values. There's a college-wide embrace of rabid environmentalism and Darwinism. Be prepared. In some cases, it's like tossing your kids to the lions. Daniel was about 80 when he got tossed to the lions, and VERY few 16-year-olds (well, let's say I've never met ANY) have the spiritual foundation that Daniel had spent a lifetime accumulating. Don't do it just because Christians should be 'in the world but not of the world'. Your teen will likely get devoured.
But some thrive. They find the good instructors and take more courses from them. They show up in my classes, looking and acting like they are 22 years old. They are focused, wonderful students, and a joy to have in class.
Some don't thrive. I took a phone call recently from a parent of a student who needed RS credits to graduate from a local high school. The student didn't care much about the college classes (not ones I teach) and trashed his GPA. Now the student is stuck with a college transcript that doesn't look too good.
For these reasons, I've advised homeschoolers to wait until the student is at least 17, and even 18 or 19, because RS quarters could be paid for by the state until the student was 21.
That's the rule that's changed.
The local high school, which must sign off on the homeschooler going to RS, determines eligibility. If the parent has registered the 14-year-old with the school district as a freshman, then that child at 16 years old is a junior. Since RS quarters must be taken by the senior year, you must start at 16 if you want the state to pay for those first two years.
Before I make a recommendation, let's look at a statistic.
At the community college where I teach, there are over 800 students enrolled in RS. Half of them should be receiving an Associate's degree this spring term, but the total number of graduates this quarter is 33. That's less than 5% of students who are participating in RS. Generously presuming that there will be RS students graduating each term, and the maximum number is 15%. Not that many students in RS are actually finishing an AA degree in two years. This doesn't surprise me. Despite opinions I've heard, community colleges are NOT glorified high schools. It's harder here. Some high schoolers drown. Some just need from 1 to 3 quarters to finish, but suddenly someone has to pay for those credits, and it won't be the state.
So here's my recommendation.
1. Your focus on using RS should be to get the best education possible for your child. It is one of several educational options you have available, and your focus should be the quality of the education that is appropriate for your child, not the possible cost savings of college, which I will tell you is very expensive these days. Preparing your child to do well in academia is a much more important goal than knocking off two years of college by age 18. A well-prepared student will have doors and scholarships and grants open to them that a student with a lousy track record does not. Do not, DO NOT saddle your student with a bad college track record because their maturity was not up to the work required. Even if you have a gifted student, be cautious and selective about the courses you choose at the community college. Find out who teaches the best classes and take those classes because that's the best education you can find for your student.
2. Do not, DO NOT consider RS as a way to pay for college. As stated above, that less-than-stellar track record accumulated during RS can actually COST you money in the long haul. Those students will have to pay for re-taking classes before they can move on, even if that's years down the road. It would be better to have NO record than a bad record, or even just a moderate record. The university to which the student applies cares nothing for the age of the student at the time s/he earned a C in college chemistry.
3. Four year colleges often have integrated courses of study for freshmen and sophomores designed to help them get to know themselves. At private religious colleges this will include some solid coursework in Biblical studies. If your student comes in as a sophomore or junior, s/he will miss some or all of this very valuable foundation. This is perhaps less important for older students who have a focus on a degree from their experience from work or having traveled or served in the military, but I don't recommend bypassing this for students under age 20. Plan to go to a 4-year college, especially a private college, as a freshman. Spend four years there.
4. Avoid the possibility of that bad college record and use the local public and private high schools more. Again, if you're homeschooling, stay in charge of your child's education, but find the best instructors and get your child in front of them. These folks can inspire students dramatically, and end up setting a life's course for them. You remember who they were from your own education. Even if it's just a single course, get your student in front of that teacher. These can be just as demanding as college courses, but your student won't be stuck with a college transcript if they give a less than stellar performance. They could instead end up gaining the maturity they need to perform in those college classes.
Running Start? Please don't be enchanted by possible dollars saved with this program. Study the possibilities, evaluate your child, and choose wisely.
I teach at a local community college.
I've always had some cautions about RS. Sixteen-year-olds in an adult environment is something you parents need to think carefully about. Assignments can get tossed their way and presentations in class might be something you would wish could wait to have your teen exposed to. And you don't get to ask the instructor how your student is doing, because Federal privacy laws prevent instructors from communicating with anyone but the student about grades. Community college instructors are generally of a liberal bent, and are pretty careless about family and spiritual values. There's a college-wide embrace of rabid environmentalism and Darwinism. Be prepared. In some cases, it's like tossing your kids to the lions. Daniel was about 80 when he got tossed to the lions, and VERY few 16-year-olds (well, let's say I've never met ANY) have the spiritual foundation that Daniel had spent a lifetime accumulating. Don't do it just because Christians should be 'in the world but not of the world'. Your teen will likely get devoured.
But some thrive. They find the good instructors and take more courses from them. They show up in my classes, looking and acting like they are 22 years old. They are focused, wonderful students, and a joy to have in class.
Some don't thrive. I took a phone call recently from a parent of a student who needed RS credits to graduate from a local high school. The student didn't care much about the college classes (not ones I teach) and trashed his GPA. Now the student is stuck with a college transcript that doesn't look too good.
For these reasons, I've advised homeschoolers to wait until the student is at least 17, and even 18 or 19, because RS quarters could be paid for by the state until the student was 21.
That's the rule that's changed.
The local high school, which must sign off on the homeschooler going to RS, determines eligibility. If the parent has registered the 14-year-old with the school district as a freshman, then that child at 16 years old is a junior. Since RS quarters must be taken by the senior year, you must start at 16 if you want the state to pay for those first two years.
Before I make a recommendation, let's look at a statistic.
At the community college where I teach, there are over 800 students enrolled in RS. Half of them should be receiving an Associate's degree this spring term, but the total number of graduates this quarter is 33. That's less than 5% of students who are participating in RS. Generously presuming that there will be RS students graduating each term, and the maximum number is 15%. Not that many students in RS are actually finishing an AA degree in two years. This doesn't surprise me. Despite opinions I've heard, community colleges are NOT glorified high schools. It's harder here. Some high schoolers drown. Some just need from 1 to 3 quarters to finish, but suddenly someone has to pay for those credits, and it won't be the state.
So here's my recommendation.
1. Your focus on using RS should be to get the best education possible for your child. It is one of several educational options you have available, and your focus should be the quality of the education that is appropriate for your child, not the possible cost savings of college, which I will tell you is very expensive these days. Preparing your child to do well in academia is a much more important goal than knocking off two years of college by age 18. A well-prepared student will have doors and scholarships and grants open to them that a student with a lousy track record does not. Do not, DO NOT saddle your student with a bad college track record because their maturity was not up to the work required. Even if you have a gifted student, be cautious and selective about the courses you choose at the community college. Find out who teaches the best classes and take those classes because that's the best education you can find for your student.
2. Do not, DO NOT consider RS as a way to pay for college. As stated above, that less-than-stellar track record accumulated during RS can actually COST you money in the long haul. Those students will have to pay for re-taking classes before they can move on, even if that's years down the road. It would be better to have NO record than a bad record, or even just a moderate record. The university to which the student applies cares nothing for the age of the student at the time s/he earned a C in college chemistry.
3. Four year colleges often have integrated courses of study for freshmen and sophomores designed to help them get to know themselves. At private religious colleges this will include some solid coursework in Biblical studies. If your student comes in as a sophomore or junior, s/he will miss some or all of this very valuable foundation. This is perhaps less important for older students who have a focus on a degree from their experience from work or having traveled or served in the military, but I don't recommend bypassing this for students under age 20. Plan to go to a 4-year college, especially a private college, as a freshman. Spend four years there.
4. Avoid the possibility of that bad college record and use the local public and private high schools more. Again, if you're homeschooling, stay in charge of your child's education, but find the best instructors and get your child in front of them. These folks can inspire students dramatically, and end up setting a life's course for them. You remember who they were from your own education. Even if it's just a single course, get your student in front of that teacher. These can be just as demanding as college courses, but your student won't be stuck with a college transcript if they give a less than stellar performance. They could instead end up gaining the maturity they need to perform in those college classes.
Running Start? Please don't be enchanted by possible dollars saved with this program. Study the possibilities, evaluate your child, and choose wisely.
Friday, March 26, 2010
College: Unless you have it paid for, DON'T GO!
So, the new healthcare reconciliation part of the health care bill includes a *gasp of surprise* large increase in the amount of money made available for students loans. "We're going to make college more affordable," says one congressman.
He's lying.
More money for student loans does NOT make college more affordable. It allows colleges to raise their tuition and fees. More money is available for loans, so colleges can also charge more. Supply and demand. Nothing about this will make college more affordable.
Tuition fees for 2009 and 2010 are rising 14% each year, way out of line for the cost of living. Why? Because more student loan money is available.
Do not think it's a cheap loan. I know veterinarians and other professionals whose education requires 8 years of college who have a student loan payment equal to their mortgage. And both will be paid off in 30 years. This is for folks who graduated several years ago. It's much worse for those who are in college now or considering college soon.
How do we fight this?
If college isn't free, or if you can't pay for it while you're attending, then DON'T GO! If colleges can't get the students they will lower their fees. And be sure to tell them you're turning down their offer of admission because it's just too expensive.
Shelling out 2/3rd of your income to rent and student loan payments means that you'll work, that you'll pay someone else to take care of your family if you decide you can have kids at all, that your job will be providing more tax money to this current legislative climate in which the winds are blowing to spend before there is money to pay for it, and certain disaster for you, the economy, and the country.
Don't do it.
He's lying.
More money for student loans does NOT make college more affordable. It allows colleges to raise their tuition and fees. More money is available for loans, so colleges can also charge more. Supply and demand. Nothing about this will make college more affordable.
Tuition fees for 2009 and 2010 are rising 14% each year, way out of line for the cost of living. Why? Because more student loan money is available.
Do not think it's a cheap loan. I know veterinarians and other professionals whose education requires 8 years of college who have a student loan payment equal to their mortgage. And both will be paid off in 30 years. This is for folks who graduated several years ago. It's much worse for those who are in college now or considering college soon.
How do we fight this?
If college isn't free, or if you can't pay for it while you're attending, then DON'T GO! If colleges can't get the students they will lower their fees. And be sure to tell them you're turning down their offer of admission because it's just too expensive.
Shelling out 2/3rd of your income to rent and student loan payments means that you'll work, that you'll pay someone else to take care of your family if you decide you can have kids at all, that your job will be providing more tax money to this current legislative climate in which the winds are blowing to spend before there is money to pay for it, and certain disaster for you, the economy, and the country.
Don't do it.
Friday, January 1, 2010
No, it isn't going to change, Part 2
In my last entry I said that the reason that education isn't going to change in this country is because the primary reason for schools is not education, but babysitting.
Here's another reason: The secondary purpose for schools is social indoctrination.
Ok, schools indoctrinate, and you should send your kids to the school where they get the social indoctrination you want them to have. But putting the purpose of schools as social indoctrination ahead of education? Well, here's the link:
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=120622
Yup. You can't be a teacher in our public schools unless you are willing to indoctrinate your students towards certain ideals.
It's one of the reasons I can't teach K-12 anymore. It's perhaps even more pervasive in the colleges and universities, but at least you get to CHOOSE which indoctrination you want to have when you pick one of those.
This is a huge argument for school choice, and explanation for why there isn't much. The educationists want YOU to become one of their disciples for the kind of social change they want to have happen. They will battle for mandatory public schools.
And they don't care about your education.
Here's another reason: The secondary purpose for schools is social indoctrination.
Ok, schools indoctrinate, and you should send your kids to the school where they get the social indoctrination you want them to have. But putting the purpose of schools as social indoctrination ahead of education? Well, here's the link:
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=120622
Yup. You can't be a teacher in our public schools unless you are willing to indoctrinate your students towards certain ideals.
It's one of the reasons I can't teach K-12 anymore. It's perhaps even more pervasive in the colleges and universities, but at least you get to CHOOSE which indoctrination you want to have when you pick one of those.
This is a huge argument for school choice, and explanation for why there isn't much. The educationists want YOU to become one of their disciples for the kind of social change they want to have happen. They will battle for mandatory public schools.
And they don't care about your education.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)